Image coding method, image decoding method, image coding apparatus, receiving apparatus, and transmitting apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image coding method of hierarchically coding a plurality of pictures to generate a bitstream, includes: coding each of the plurality of pictures, which belongs to any one of a plurality of hierarchical layers, with reference to a picture belonging to a hierarchical layer which is same as or lower than a hierarchical layer to which the picture belongs, and without reference to a picture belonging to a hierarchical layer which is higher than the hierarchical layer to which the picture belongs; and generating the bitstream by coding the coded pictures and time information indicating decoding times of the coded pictures. The time information indicates that the decoding times are set at equal intervals for low-layer pictures which are the plurality of pictures other than highest-layer pictures belonging to a highest layer among the plurality of hierarchical layers.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation application of PCT International Application No.PCT/JP2014/004889 filed on Sep. 24, 2014, designating the United Statesof America, which is based on and claims priority of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/892,536 filed on Oct. 18, 2013. The entiredisclosures of the above-identified applications, including thespecifications, drawings and claims are incorporated herein by referencein their entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an image coding method and an imagedecoding method.

BACKGROUND

As a technique regarding an image coding method for coding images(including video) or an image decoding method for decoding images, thereis the technique disclosed in Non Patent Literature (NPL) 1.

CITATION LIST Non Patent Literature

-   [NPL 1] Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC) of ITU-T    SG16 WP3 and ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG11 12th Meeting: Geneva, CH, 14-23    Jan. 2013 JCTVC-L1003_v34.doc, High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC)    text specification draft 10 (for FDIS & Last Call)    http://phenix.it-sudparis.eu/jct/doc_end_user/docurnents/12_Geneva/wg11/JCTVC-L1003-v34.zip

SUMMARY

However, in the image coding method and image decoding method accordingto the conventional technique, there are cases where inefficientprocessing is used.

In view of this, the present disclosure provides an image coding methodcapable of generating a coded bitstream that can be efficiently decodedby an image decoding apparatus, or an image coding decoding methodcapable of efficiently decoding an image.

An image coding method according to an aspect of the present disclosureis an image coding method of hierarchically coding a plurality ofpictures to generate a bitstream, the image coding method including:coding each picture of the plurality of pictures, which belongs to anyone of a plurality of hierarchical layers, with reference to a picturebelonging to a hierarchical layer which is same as or lower than ahierarchical layer to which the each picture belongs, and withoutreference to a picture belonging to a hierarchical layer which is higherthan the hierarchical layer to which the each picture belongs; andgenerating the bitstream by coding the coded pictures and timeinformation indicating decoding times of the coded pictures, wherein thetime information indicates that the decoding times are set at equalintervals for low-layer pictures which are the plurality of picturesother than highest-layer pictures belonging to a highest layer among theplurality of hierarchical layers.

Furthermore, an image coding method according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure is an image decoding method of decoding a bitstreamgenerated by hierarchically coding a plurality of pictures eachbelonging to any one of a plurality of hierarchical layers, the imagedecoding method including: decoding time information indicating decodingtimes of the plurality of pictures, from the bitstream; and decodingeach picture of the plurality of pictures according to the timeinformation, with reference to a picture belonging to a hierarchicallayer which is same as or lower than a hierarchical layer to which theeach picture belongs, and without reference to a picture belonging to ahierarchical layer which is higher than the hierarchical layer to whichthe each picture belongs, wherein the time information indicates thatthe decoding times are set at equal intervals for low-layer pictureswhich are the plurality of pictures other than highest-layer picturesbelonging to a highest layer among the plurality of hierarchical layers.

It should be noted that these general and specific aspects describedabove may be implemented using a system, a method, an integratedcircuit, a computer program, or a computer-readable recording mediumsuch as a CD-ROM, or any arbitrary combination of systems, methods,integrated circuits, computer programs, or computer-readable recordingmedia.

The present disclosure can provide an image coding method capable ofgenerating a coded bitstream that can be efficiently decoded by an imagedecoding apparatus, or an image coding decoding method capable ofefficiently decoding an image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and other objects, advantages and features of the disclosure willbecome apparent from the following description thereof taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings that illustrate a specificembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coding structure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coding structure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coding structure.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded stream.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded stream.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded stream.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an image coding apparatus according toEmbodiment 1.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an image coding process according to Embodiment1.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a coding structure determining processaccording to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded streamaccording to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded streamaccording to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded stream accordingto Embodiment 1.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded stream accordingto Embodiment 1.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a NAL type determining process according toEmbodiment 1.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of reference picture setsaccording to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of reference picture setsaccording to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of reference picture setsaccording to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of an image coding apparatus according toEmbodiment 2.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of an image coding process according toEmbodiment 2.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a NAL type determining process according toEmbodiment 2.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of an SEI determining process according toEmbodiment 2.

FIG. 21A is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded streamaccording to Embodiment 2.

FIG. 21B is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded streamaccording to Embodiment 2.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded stream accordingto Embodiment 2.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded stream accordingto Embodiment 2.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of a coding structure determining processaccording to Embodiment 3.

FIG. 25A is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded streamaccording to Embodiment 3.

FIG. 25B is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded streamaccording to Embodiment 3.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded stream accordingto Embodiment 3.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded stream accordingto Embodiment 3.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a NAL type determining process according toEmbodiment 3.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of reference picture setsaccording to Embodiment 3.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of reference picture setsaccording to Embodiment 3.

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating an example of reference picture setsaccording to Embodiment 3.

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coding structureaccording to Embodiment 3.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart of a coding structure determining processaccording to Embodiment 4.

FIG. 34A is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded streamaccording to Embodiment 4.

FIG. 34B is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded streamaccording to Embodiment 4.

FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded stream accordingto Embodiment 4.

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coded stream accordingto Embodiment 4.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating an example of reference picture setsaccording to Embodiment 4.

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating an example of reference picture setsaccording to Embodiment 4.

FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating an example of reference picture setsaccording to Embodiment 4.

FIG. 40 is a block diagram of an image decoding apparatus according toEmbodiment 5.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart of an image decoding process according toEmbodiment 5.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart of a reproduction GOP obtaining process accordingto Embodiment 5.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart of an image decoding process according toEmbodiment 6.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart of a reproduction GOP obtaining process accordingto Embodiment 6.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart of an image decoding process according toEmbodiment 7.

FIG. 46 is a flowchart of a reproduction GOP obtaining process accordingto Embodiment 7.

FIG. 47 is a flowchart of an image decoding process according toEmbodiment 8.

FIG. 48 is a diagram of an overall configuration of a content providingsystem for implementing content distribution services.

FIG. 49 is a diagram of an overall configuration of a digitalbroadcasting system.

FIG. 50 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofa television.

FIG. 51 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofan information reproducing/recording unit that reads and writesinformation from or on a recording medium which is an optical disk.

FIG. 52 is a diagram illustrating an example of a structure of arecording medium which is an optical disk.

FIG. 53A is a diagram illustrating an example of a cellular phone.

FIG. 53B is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configurationof a cellular phone.

FIG. 54 is a diagram illustrating a structure of multiplexed data.

FIG. 55 is a diagram schematically illustrating how each stream ismultiplexed in multiplexed data.

FIG. 56 is a diagram illustrating in more detail how a video stream isstored in a stream of PES packets.

FIG. 57 is a diagram illustrating a structure of TS packets and sourcepackets in multiplexed data.

FIG. 58 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a PMT.

FIG. 59 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of multiplexeddata information.

FIG. 60 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of streamattribute information.

FIG. 61 is a diagram illustrating steps for identifying video data.

FIG. 62 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofan integrated circuit for implementing the moving picture coding methodand the moving picture decoding method according to each of embodiments.

FIG. 63 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for switching betweendriving frequencies.

FIG. 64 is a diagram illustrating steps for identifying video data andswitching between driving frequencies.

FIG. 65 is a diagram illustrating an example of a look-up table in whichvideo data standards are associated with driving frequencies.

FIG. 66A is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration forsharing a module of a signal processing unit.

FIG. 66B is a diagram illustrating another example of a configurationfor sharing a module of a signal processing unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In recent years, the progress of digital video device technology hasbeen remarkable, and opportunities for compression-coding a video signal(a plurality of pictures arranged in chronological order) inputted froma video camera or a television tuner, and recording the resulting dataon a recording medium such as a DVD or a hard disk has been increasingAlthough H.264/AVC (MPEG-4 AVC) exists as an image coding standard, theHigh Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard (NPL 1) is being consideredas a next generation standard.

In the HEVC standard (NPL 1), a hierarchical structure can be used inorder to realize temporal scalability. With this, for example, thecoding structures illustrated in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 , and FIG. 3 can berealized.

In FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 , and FIG. 3 , TemporalId is an identifier of a layerin the coding structure. A larger TemporalId indicates a deeper (lower)layer. A single square block represents a picture, and Ix in a blockindicates an I-picture (intra-prediction picture), Px indicates aP-picture (forward predicted picture), and Bx indicates a B-picture(bi-directional predicted picture). The x in Ix, Px, and Bx indicatesthe order in which the picture is displayed. Pictures having anunderlined Ix, Px, or Bx represent pictures belonging to the same groupof pictures (GOP). Pictures with diagonal line shading representpictures with the largest TemporalId.

Furthermore, FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a case where the largestTemporalId is 4, FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a case where thelargest TemporalId is 3, and FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a casewhere the largest TemporalId is 2.

Temporal scalability is realized by prohibiting the use of a picturewith a larger TemporalId as a reference picture. For example, the videoillustrated in FIG. 1 is a 120-fps (frame per second) video. When a60-fps video is to be obtained from the 120-fps video, the imagedecoding apparatus decodes only pictures with a TemporalId of 0 to aTemporalId of 3. Here, since pictures with a TemporalId of 0 to aTemporalId of 3 are prohibited from referring to a picture with aTemporalId of 4, the image decoding apparatus can decode the pictureswith a TemporalId of 0 to a TemporalId of 3 without having to decodepictures with a TemporalId of 4. In this manner, the image decodingapparatus can obtain a 60-fps video by decoding only the pictures with aTemporalId of 0 to a TemporalId of 3.

Furthermore, only a picture with a temporalId that is smaller than orequal to the TemporalId of the current picture to be processed can beused as a reference picture of the current picture. With this, thepicture coded streams (coding order) illustrated in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 ,and FIG. 3 become as illustrated in FIG. 4 , FIG. 5 , and FIG. 6 ,respectively. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of when the largestTemporalId is 4, FIG. 5 illustrates an example of when the largestTemporalId is 3, and FIG. 6 illustrates an example of when the largestTemporalId is 2. Specifically, the image coding apparatus codes pictureswith a small TemporalId first, and subsequently codes pictures with alarge TemporalId which use the pictures with a small TemporalId asreference pictures.

However, even in the case of reproducing video at a lowered frame rateusing temporal scalability, the buffer model of a coded picture buffer(CPB) would fail if picture decoding is not performed at the frame rateprior to the lowering.

For example, in the case of the 120-fps coded stream illustrated in FIG.4 , the image decoding apparatus only decodes the pictures without thediagonal line shading when reproducing video at 60 fps. However, sinceI0, P16, B8, B4, and B2 are located consecutively in the coded stream,the coded stream gradually builds up in the CPB if 1 picture is notdecoded in 1/120 seconds. This causes an overflow. However, reproducingat 60 fps is desired mostly in cases where the system only has a1-picture decoding capacity of 1/60 seconds. In addition, in such asystem, video cannot be displayed at 60 fps because an overflow willoccur. In this manner, the video cannot be displayed at 60 fps if theimage decoding apparatus does not have a 1/120 sec. picture decodingcapacity.

An image coding method according to an aspect of the present disclosureis an image coding method of hierarchically coding a plurality ofpictures to generate a bitstream, including: coding each picture of theplurality of pictures, which belongs to any one of a plurality ofhierarchical layers, with reference to a picture belonging to ahierarchical layer which is same as or lower than a hierarchical layerto which the each picture belongs, and without reference to a picturebelonging to a hierarchical layer which is higher than the hierarchicallayer to which the each picture belongs; and generating the bitstream bycoding the coded pictures and time information indicating decoding timesof the coded pictures, wherein the time information indicates that thedecoding times are set at equal intervals for low-layer pictures whichare the plurality of pictures other than highest-layer picturesbelonging to a highest layer among the plurality of hierarchical layers.

Accordingly, the image coding method can generate a coded bitstream inwhich the decoding times of the low-layer pictures other thanhighest-layer pictures belonging to the highest hierarchical layer areset at equal intervals. Therefore, when the frame rate of the picturesin all layers is 120 fps and the frame rate of low-layer pictures is 60fps for example, the low-layer pictures can be decoded by an imagedecoding apparatus having a 60-fps decoding capacity. In this manner,the image coding method can generate a coded bitstream that can bedecoded efficiently by the image decoding apparatus.

For example, the time information may indicate that a decoding time of apicture preceding a random-accessible I-picture in display orderprecedes a decoding time of a picture following the random-accessibleI-picture in display order.

Accordingly, the image coding method enables reduction of the capacityof the reference frame memory of the image decoding apparatus.

For example, the plurality of pictures may each belong to any one of aplurality of picture groups each including at least one I-picture and aplurality of pictures located consecutively in display order, and thedecoding times may be set so that the pictures included in each of theplurality of picture groups are decoded consecutively withoutintervention of decoding of a picture belonging to another one of theplurality of picture groups.

Accordingly, the image coding method can generate a coded bitstream thatcan be decoded by the image decoding apparatus without performing aspecial process.

For example, in the coding of each of the plurality of pictures, thehighest-layer pictures and the low-layer pictures may be codedalternately.

For example, the low-layer pictures may have a frame rate that is half aframe rate of the plurality of pictures.

For example, each of the highest-layer pictures may be coded withoutreference to a picture immediately following in display order andbelonging to an immediately-lower hierarchical layer.

Furthermore, an image coding method according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure is an image decoding method of decoding a bitstreamgenerated by hierarchically coding a plurality of pictures eachbelonging to any one of a plurality of hierarchical layers, the imagedecoding method including: decoding time information indicating decodingtimes of the plurality of pictures, from the bitstream; and decodingeach picture of the plurality of pictures according to the timeinformation, with reference to a picture belonging to a hierarchicallayer which is same as or lower than a hierarchical layer to which theeach picture belongs, and without reference to a picture belonging to ahierarchical layer which is higher than the hierarchical layer to whichthe each picture belongs, wherein the time information indicates thatthe decoding times are set at equal intervals for low-layer pictureswhich are the plurality of pictures other than highest-layer picturesbelonging to a highest layer among the plurality of hierarchical layers.

Accordingly, when the frame rate of the pictures in all layers is 120fps and the frame rate of low-layer pictures is 60 fps for example, thelow-layer pictures can be decoded by an image decoding apparatus havinga 60-fps decoding capacity. In this manner, the image decoding method iscapable of decoding images efficiently.

For example, the time information may indicate that a decoding time of apicture preceding a random-accessible I-picture in display orderprecedes a decoding time of a picture following the random-accessibleI-picture in display order.

Accordingly, the image decoding method enables reduction of referenceframe memory capacity.

For example, the plurality of pictures may each belong to any one of aplurality of picture groups each including at least one I-picture and aplurality of pictures located consecutively in display order, and thedecoding times may be set so that the pictures included in each of theplurality of picture groups are decoded consecutively withoutintervention of decoding of a picture belonging to another one of theplurality of picture groups.

Accordingly, the image decoding method can decode images without havingto perform a special process.

For example, the low-layer pictures may have a frame rate that is half aframe rate of the plurality of pictures.

For example, each of the highest-layer pictures may be coded withoutreference to a picture immediately following in display order andbelonging to an immediately-lower hierarchical layer.

An image coding apparatus according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure is an image coding apparatus that hierarchically codes aplurality of pictures to generate a bitstream, the image codingapparatus including: a coding unit configured to code each picture ofthe plurality of pictures, which belongs to any one of a plurality ofhierarchical layers, with reference to a picture belonging to ahierarchical layer which is same as or lower than a hierarchical layerto which the each picture belongs, and without reference to a picturebelonging to a hierarchical layer which is higher than the hierarchicallayer to which the each picture belongs; and a generating unitconfigured to generate the bitstream by coding the coded pictures andtime information indicating decoding times of the coded pictures,wherein the time information indicates that the decoding times are setat equal intervals for low-layer pictures which are the plurality ofpictures other than highest-layer pictures belonging to a highest layeramong the plurality of hierarchical layers.

Accordingly, the image coding apparatus can generate a coded bitstreamin which the decoding times of the low-layer pictures other thanhighest-layer pictures belonging to the highest hierarchical layer areset at equal intervals. Therefore, when the frame rate of the picturesin all layers is 120 fps and the frame rate of low-layer pictures is 60fps for example, the low-layer pictures can be decoded by an imagedecoding apparatus having a 60-fps decoding capacity. In this manner,the image coding apparatus can generate a coded bitstream that can bedecoded efficiently by the image decoding apparatus.

Furthermore, a receiving apparatus according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure is a receiving apparatus that receives a bitstream generatedby hierarchically coding a plurality of pictures each belonging to anyone of a plurality of hierarchical layers, the receiving apparatusincluding: a first decoding unit configured to decode time informationindicating decoding times of the plurality of pictures, from thebitstream; and a second decoding unit configured to decode each pictureof the plurality of pictures according to the time information, withreference to a picture belonging to a hierarchical layer which is sameas or lower than a hierarchical layer to which the each picture belongs,and without reference to a picture belonging to a hierarchical layerwhich is higher than the hierarchical layer to which the each picturebelongs, wherein the time information indicates that the decoding timesare set at equal intervals for low-layer pictures which are theplurality of pictures other than highest-layer pictures belonging to ahighest layer among the plurality of hierarchical layers.

Accordingly, when the frame rate of the pictures in all layers is 120fps and the frame rate of low-layer pictures is 60 fps for example, thelow-layer pictures can be decoded by an image decoding apparatus havinga 60-fps decoding capacity. In this manner, the receiving apparatus iscapable of decoding images efficiently.

Furthermore, a transmitting apparatus according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure is a transmitting apparatus that transmits to theoutside a bitstream generated by hierarchical coding of a plurality ofpictures, wherein the hierarchical coding is executed by: coding eachpicture of the plurality of pictures, which belongs to any one of aplurality of hierarchical layers, with reference to a picture belongingto a hierarchical layer which is same as or lower than a hierarchicallayer to which the each picture belongs, and without reference to apicture belonging to a hierarchical layer which is higher than thehierarchical layer to which the each picture belongs; and generating thebitstream by coding the coded pictures and time information indicatingdecoding times of the coded pictures, and the time information indicatesthat the decoding times are set at equal intervals for low-layerpictures which are the plurality of pictures other than highest-layerpictures belonging to a highest layer among the plurality ofhierarchical layers.

Accordingly, the transmitting apparatus can transmit a coded bitstreamin which the decoding times of the low-layer pictures other thanhighest-layer pictures belonging to the highest hierarchical layer areset at equal intervals. Therefore, when the frame rate of the picturesin all layers is 120 fps and the frame rate of low-layer pictures is 60fps for example, the low-layer pictures can be decoded by an imagedecoding apparatus having a 60-fps decoding capacity. In this manner,the transmitting apparatus can transmit a coded bitstream that can bedecoded efficiently by the image decoding apparatus.

Furthermore, an image coding and decoding apparatus according to anaspect of the present disclosure includes the image coding apparatus andthe image decoding apparatus.

It should be noted that general and specific aspects described above maybe implemented using a system, a method, an integrated circuit, acomputer program, or a computer-readable recording medium such as aCD-ROM, or any arbitrary combination of systems, methods, integratedcircuits, computer programs, or computer-readable recording media.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be describedwith reference to the drawings.

It should be noted that each of the embodiments described below shows ageneral or specific example. The numerical values, shapes, materials,structural elements, the arrangement and connection of the structuralelements, steps, the processing order of the steps etc. shown in thefollowing embodiments are mere examples, and are not intended to limitthe scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, among the structuralelements in the following embodiments, structural elements not recitedin any one of the independent claims defining the most generic conceptare described as arbitrary structural elements.

Embodiment 1

<Overall Configuration>

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an image coding apparatus 100 according tothis embodiment. The image coding apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 7codes input images 121 to generate a coded stream 124. The image codingapparatus 100 includes a coding structure determining unit 101, a NALtype determining unit 102, and a coding unit 103.

<Operation (As a Whole)>

Next, the flow of the coding process as a whole will be described withreference to FIG. 8 . FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an image coding processaccording to this embodiment.

First, the coding structure determining unit 101 determines the codingstructure based on the input images 121 and TemporalId 122 which areinputted from the outside (S101). Specifically, the coding structuredetermining unit 101 determines the TemporalId of each picture.

Next, the NAL type determining unit 102 determines the NAL type of thecurrent picture (S102)

Next, the coding unit 103 codes au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1 andpic_dpb_output_delay (S104), codes the NAL type (S105), codes theTemoporalId (S107), codes the reference picture set (S108), and codesthe current picture (S109), to generate the coded stream 124.Specifically, the coding unit 103 codes the reference picture setidentified by a reference picture set identifier 123 which is inputtedfrom the outside, from among a plurality of sets. Furthermore, thecoding unit 103 codes the current picture by using intra prediction whenthe current picture is an I-picture, using unidirectional interprediction when the current picture is a P-picture, and usingbi-directional inter prediction when the current picture is a B-picture.Furthermore, the coding unit 103 codes the current picture usingfrequency transformation and variable-length coding.

It should be noted that au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1,pic_dpb_output_delay, and the NAL types will be described later.

Then, image coding apparatus 100 repeats the process from step S102 toS109 until processing of all pictures is completed (S110).

<Operation (Coding Structure Determining)>

Next, the flow of the coding structure determining process (step S101 inFIG. 8 ) will be described with reference to FIG. 9 . FIG. 9 is aflowchart of a coding structure determining process according to thisembodiment.

First, the coding structure determining unit 101 assigns a TemporalId toeach picture as illustrated in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 , and FIG. 3 , accordingto the largest TemporalId 122 which is inputted from the outside (S121).For example, when the largest TemporalId is 4, the coding structuredetermining unit 101 assigns TemporalId0 to a picture whose displayorder is 0 or a multiple of 16, assigns TemporalId1 to every 16thpicture starting from the picture with the display order of 8, assignsTemporalId2 to every 8th picture starting from the picture with thedisplay order of 4, assigns TemporalId3 to every 4th picture startingfrom the picture with the display order of 2, and assigns TemporalId4 topictures with an odd number display order.

Next, the coding structure determining unit 101 rearranges the picturesaccording to the determined TemporalId, and sets a coding order such asthat illustrated in FIG. 4 , FIG. 5 , and FIG. 6 (S122).

Next, the coding structure determining unit 101 divides the plurality ofpictures into groups so that the pictures from a random access point tothe next random access point are included in the same GOP (S123) At thistime, the coding structure determining unit 101 determines the I/P/Bpicture type according to the reference relationship. Specifically, thecoding structure determining unit 101 sets an I-picture as the pictureat a random access point. Here, a random access point indicates apicture which can be specified when decoding or reproduction is desiredmidway through a coded video, and indicates that reproduction can beperformed from such picture.

Next, the coding structure determining unit 101 rearranges the picturesso that pictures with the largest TemporalId have an odd-number time,and the rest of the pictures have an even-number time (S124). Forexample, the coding structure determining unit 101 rearranges thepictures as illustrated in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, FIG. 11 , or FIG. 12 .FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B illustrate an example of a case where the largestTemporalId is 4, FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a case where thelargest TemporalId is 3, and FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a casewhere the largest TemporalId is 2. As illustrated in the figure, thecoding structure determining unit 101 rearranges the pictures so thatpictures with the largest TemporalId, indicated by diagonal lineshading, and pictures without the largest TemporalId are coded in analternating manner.

<Operation (NAL Type Determining>

Next, the flow of the NAL type determining process (step S102 in FIG. 8) will be described with reference to FIG. 13 . FIG. 13 is a flowchartof a NAL type determining process according to this embodiment.

First, the NAL type determining unit 102 determines whether the currentpicture is a random access point picture (S141). When the currentpicture is a random access point picture (Yes in S141), the NAL typedetermining unit 102 sets the NAL type of the current picture to IRAP(S142), and the process ends.

When the current picture is not a random access point picture (No inS141), the NAL type determining unit 102 determines whether the currentpicture precedes in display order the IRAP immediately preceding incoding order (S143).

When the current picture precedes in display order the IRAP immediatelypreceding in coding order (Yes in S143), the NAL type determining unit102 determines whether the current picture is included in the same GOPas the second preceding IRAP in coding order (S144). When the currentpicture is included in the same GOP as the second preceding IRAP incoding order (Yes in S144), the NAL type determining unit 102 sets theNAL type of the current picture to BLP (S145).

On the other hand, when the current picture is included in a GOPdifferent from the GOP including the second preceding IRAP in codingorder (No in S144), the NAL type determining unit 102 sets the NAL typeof the current picture to LP (S146).

Next, the NAL type determining unit 102 determines whether the currentpicture is the last picture in the GOP in coding order (S147). When thecurrent picture is the last picture in the GOP in coding order (Yes inS147), the NAL type determining unit 102 sets the NAL type of thecurrent picture to LLP (S148), and the process ends.

Furthermore, when the current picture follows in display order the IRAPimmediately preceding in coding order (No in S143), the NAL typedetermining unit 102 determines whether there is an uncoded picturepreceding in display order the IRAP immediately preceding in codingorder (S149). When there is an uncoded picture preceding the IRAPimmediately preceding in coding order (Yes in S149), the NAL typedetermining unit 102 sets the NAL type of the current picture to PTP(S150), and the process ends.

When there is no uncoded picture preceding in display order the IRAPimmediately preceding in coding order (No in S149), the NAL typedetermining unit 102 determines whether the current picture is includedin the same GOP as the second preceding IRAP in coding order (S151).When the current picture is included in the same GOP as the secondpreceding IRAP in coding order (Yes in S151), the NAL type determiningunit 102 sets the NAL type of the current picture to BTP (S152).

When the current picture is included in a GOP different from the GOPincluding the second preceding IRAP in coding order (No in S151), theNAL type determining unit 102 sets the NAL type of the current pictureto TP (S153).

Next, the NAL type determining unit 102 determines whether the currentpicture is the last picture in the GOP in coding order (S154). When thecurrent picture is the last picture in the GOP in coding order (Yes inS154), the NAL type determining unit 102 sets the NAL type of thecurrent picture to LTP (S155), and the process ends.

With the process described above, coded streams such as thoseillustrated in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, FIG. 11 , and FIG. 12 aregenerated. The meaning of each NAL type is as described below. IRAPmeans a picture that only contains random accessible I-slices. LP meansa picture preceding an IRAP in display order. TP means a picturefollowing an IRAP in display order. BLP means an LP picture included inthe same GOP as the second preceding IRAP in coding order. BTP means aTP picture included in the same GOP as the second preceding IRAP incoding order. LLP means an LP picture that is the last picture in a GOPin coding order. LTP means a TP picture that is the last picture in aGOP in coding order. PTP means a TP picture that is still followed by anLP picture in coding order.

Furthermore, au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1 is a parameter indicating thetiming for starting decoding, and indicates that decoding should bestarted at a time au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1+1. Furthermore,pic_dpb_output_delay is a parameter indicating the timing for displayinga decoded picture, and indicates that the decoded picture should bedisplayed at a time au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1+1+pic_dpb_output_delay.To describe using P16 illustrated in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B as anexample, decoding is started at time 2 which isau_cpb_removal_delay_minus1+1, and P16 is displayed at time 24 which isau_cpb_removal_delay_minus1+1+pic_dpb_output_delay.

Furthermore, the information indicating these decoding times is includedin coded stream 124, and transmitted to the image decoding apparatus.The image decoding apparatus decodes the pictures at the decoding timesindicated in the information. In other words, the times (coding times)illustrated in FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 11 , and FIG. 12 indicate thedecoding times in the image decoding apparatus. Furthermore, theaforementioned coding order indicates the decoding order in the imagedecoding apparatus.

Furthermore, the information indicating the decoding times and thedisplay times is not limited to the aforementionedau_cpb_removal_delay_minus1 and pic_dpb_output_delay, and arbitraryinformation may be used.

The reference picture set indicates pictures to be used as referencepictures. The reference picture set may be set freely as long as thefollowing constraints are satisfied: (1) a picture cannot refer to apicture with a larger TemporalId; and (2) a TP picture cannot refer toan LP picture.

Examples of reference picture sets according to this embodiment areillustrated in FIG. 14 , FIG. 15 , and FIG. 16 . FIG. 14 illustrates aset that prioritizes compression rate, and is a set in which codedpictures are referred to whenever possible. FIG. 15 illustrates a setthat enables reduction in the frame memory size to be used, and is a setin which preceding and subsequent pictures near the current picture indisplay order are referred to. Furthermore, in order to facilitaterandom access, this set is set so that only a picture included in thesame GOP as the current picture is referred to.

FIG. 16 illustrates a set that has balance between compression ratio andmemory size, and is a set in which a picture with TemporalId0 havingsmall coding error is referred to, or a preceding or subsequent picturenear the current picture in display order is referred to. Furthermore,in order to facilitate random accessing, this set is set so that only apicture included in the same GOP as the current picture is referred to.Furthermore, in this set, referring to a picture with the sameTennporalId is prohibited, in the same manner as a TSA picture in HEVC(NPL 1), to allow switching of the reproduction frame rate midwaythrough a coded stream.

As described earlier, in this embodiment, image coding apparatus 100selects one from among the three sets according to the reference pictureset identifier 123 inputted from the outside, and codes the selectedset.

It should be noted that the examples illustrated in FIG. 14 , FIG. 15 ,and FIG. 16 are examples for the case where the largest TemporalId is 4.Even when the largest TemporalId is other than 4, the reference pictureset can be set freely as long as the following constraints aresatisfied: (1) a picture cannot refer to a picture with a largerTemporalId; and (2) a TP picture cannot refer to an LP picture.

Furthermore, although a gap is provided between pictures (for example,I0 and P16) near the beginning of the coded stream in order to describethe temporal relationship, in an actual coded stream the pictures arecontinuous. Furthermore, the decoding start time interval is setaccording to au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1.

<Advantageous Effect>

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible tolower the display frame rate and display video even in a system thatdoes not have the capacity to allow decoding at the maximum frame rateof a coded stream. For example, assume that the coded stream in FIG. 10Aand FIG. 10B is a 120-fps coded stream. When the displaying of a 120-fpsvideo is desired, the image decoding apparatus can display the 120-fpsvideo by performing decoding as indicated by “decode” and “display” inFIG. 10A and FIG. 10B. Furthermore, when displaying of video at 60 fpsis desired, the image decoding apparatus need only decode and displaythe pictures without diagonal line shading among the pictures indicatedin “decode” and “display”.

In this case, the pictures are coded at 2-picture intervals. Therefore,by decoding pictures once in 1/60 seconds, the image decoding apparatuscan decode and display the coded stream without causing the buffer tofail. In other words, even without a 1/120 second picture decodingcapacity, as long the image decoding apparatus has a 60 fps picturedecoding capacity, video can be displayed at 60 fps.

Furthermore, since a TP is prohibited from referring to an LP, and an LPis not coded until the next IRAP after the coding of a TP, the imagecoding apparatus 100 or the image decoding apparatus can delete an LPpicture from the reference frame memory at the time of coding ordecoding. By doing so, the size of the reference frame memory can bereduced. Furthermore, by using the NAL type called PTP which indicatesthat there is still an LP picture following in coding order (decodingorder), the image coding apparatus 100 or the image decoding apparatuscan code or decode, ahead of the LP, a picture following the IRAP indisplay order. Accordingly, both frame memory size reduction anddecoding at a lower frame rate can be achieved.

Furthermore, by using BLP and BTP which indicate that a picture belongsto the preceding GOP in coding order, and LLP and LTP which indicatesthe last picture in a GOP in coding order, it becomes easy for the imagedecoding apparatus to determine, in a coded stream in which pictures oftwo GOPs are intermixed, which GOP each of the pictures belongs to.Accordingly, in the case of trick play, and so on, the image decodingapparatus can easily extract a GOP from a coded stream.

In this manner, the image coding apparatus 100 according to the presentembodiment hierarchically codes the plurality of pictures to generate abitstream (coded stream 124). The image coding apparatus 100 codes eachpicture of the plurality of pictures, which belongs to any one of aplurality of layers, with reference to a picture belonging to a layerthat is the same as or lower than the layer to which the picturebelongs, and without reference to a picture belonging to a layer that ishigher than the layer to which the picture belongs. The image codingapparatus 100 codes the coded pictures and time information(au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1) indicating the decoding times of the codedpictures, to generate a bitstream (coded stream 124). The timeinformation indicates that the decoding times of low-layer picturesother than highest-layer pictures belonging to the highest hierarchicallayer, among the plurality of pictures, are set at equal intervals.Stated differently, the image coding apparatus 100 codes highest-layerpictures and low-layer pictures in an alternating manner.

For example, the frame rate of the low-layer pictures is half the framerate of the plurality of pictures. For example, the frame rate of thelow-layer pictures is 60 fps, and the frame rate of the plurality ofpictures is 120 fps.

Accordingly, the image coding apparatus 100 can generate a codedbitstream in which the decoding times of the low-layer pictures otherthan highest-layer pictures belonging to the highest hierarchical layerare set at equal intervals. Therefore, when the frame rate of thepictures in all layers is 120 fps and the frame rate of low-layerpictures is 60 fps for example, the low-layer pictures can be decoded byan image decoding apparatus having a 60-fps decoding capacity. In thismanner, the image coding apparatus 100 can generate a coded bitstreamthat can be decoded efficiently by the image decoding apparatus.

It should be noted that although in the foregoing description the imagecoding apparatus 100 determines the coding structure based on thelargest TemporalId 122 inputted from the outside, the largest TemporalIdneed not be inputted from the outside. For example, the image codingapparatus 100 may use a fixed value as the largest TemporalId.Alternatively, the image coding apparatus 100 may determine the largestTemporalId based on the frame rate of the input images 121, or maydetermine the largest TemporalId based on the motion information orcomplexity of the input images 121.

Furthermore, although in the foregoing description the image codingapparatus 100 selects the reference picture set to be used from amongthe three types of reference picture sets using the reference pictureset identifier 123 inputted from the outside, the reference picture setidentifier 123 need not be inputted from the outside. For example, theimage coding apparatus 100 may use a fixed reference picture set.Alternatively, the image coding apparatus 100 may switch the referencepicture set to be used in accordance with the amount of deficiency inthe reference frame memory, or may switch the reference picture set tobe used based on the motion information or complexity of the inputimages 121.

Furthermore, although three types are indicated for the referencepicture set in the foregoing description, the reference picture set isnot limited to these and may be set freely as long as the followingconstraints are satisfied: (1) a picture cannot refer to a picture witha larger TemporalId; and (2) a TP picture cannot refer to an LP picture.

Furthermore, although the unit of time is set at 1/120 seconds in FIG.10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 11 , and FIG. 12 , the unit of time is not limitedto such and may be 1/60 seconds or 1/30 seconds. The unit of time may bedetermined based on the frame rate of the input images 121 or the framerate of the picture to be coded.

Furthermore, although the forgoing description describes an example inwhich pictures with TemporalId0 other than I-pictures are P-pictures,these pictures may be B-pictures coded by forward prediction.Furthermore, the interval between I-pictures (random access points) neednot be as illustrated in FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 11 , and FIG. 12 . Forexample, the interval between I-pictures may be longer or shorter thanthat illustrated in FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 11, and FIG. 12 .

Furthermore, in the foregoing description, as illustrated in FIG. 9 ,after setting a coding order such as that illustrated in FIG. 4 , FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 , rearranging to a coding order such as that in FIG. 10A,FIG. 10B, FIG. 11 , and FIG. 12 is performed in step S124. However, acoding order such as that illustrated in FIG. 4 , FIG. 5 , and FIG. 6need not be set temporarily as long as a coding order such as that inFIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 11 , and FIG. 12 is eventually set.

In addition, the process according to this embodiment may be implementedusing software. Then, this software may be distributed by beingdownloaded, etc. Furthermore, this software may be circulated by beingrecorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

Furthermore, various modifications such as those described above arealso applicable to the other embodiments in the present Description.

Embodiment 2

<Overall Configuration>

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imagecoding apparatus 100A according to this embodiment. The image codingapparatus 100A illustrated in FIG. 17 codes the input images 121 togenerate coded stream 124A. The image coding apparatus 100A includes anSEI determining unit 104 in addition to the configuration of the imagecoding apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 7 . Furthermore, the functionsof a NAL type determining unit 102A and a coding unit 103A are differentfrom those of the NAL type determining unit 102 and the coding unit 103.

It should be noted that the subsequent description omits points thatoverlap with Embodiment 1, and focuses mainly on the points ofdifference.

<Operation (As a Whole)>

Next, the flow of the coding process as a whole will be described withreference to FIG. 18 . FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the image codingprocess according to this embodiment.

The process illustrated in FIG. 18 adds steps S103 and S106 to theprocess illustrated in FIG. 8 . Furthermore, the NAL type determiningprocess (S102A) is different from that in FIG. 8 .

First, the coding structure determining unit 101 determines the codingstructure (S101).

Next, the NAL type determining unit 102A determines the NAL type of thecurrent picture (S102A).

Next, the SEI determining unit 104 determines the SEI (S103).

Next, the coding unit 103A codes au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1 andpic_dpb_output_delay (S104), codes the NAL type (S105), codes the SEI(S106), codes the TemoporalId (S107), codes the reference picture set(S108), and codes the current picture (S109), to generate the codedstream 124.

Then, the image coding apparatus 100A repeats the processes in stepsS102A to S109 until the processing of all the pictures is completed(S110).

<Operation (Coding Structure Determining)>

The flow of the coding structure determining process is the same as inEmbodiment 1 (FIG. 9 ), and thus description is omitted.

<Operation (NAL Type Determining>

Next, the flow of the NAL type determining process (step S102A in FIG.18 ) will be described with reference to FIG. 19 . FIG. 19 is aflowchart of a NAL type determining process according to thisembodiment.

First, the NAL type determining unit 102A determines whether the currentpicture is the lead picture in coding order (S161). When the currentpicture is the lead picture in coding order (Yes in S161), the NAL typedetermining unit 102A sets the NAL type of the current picture to IRAP(S162). Otherwise (No in S161), the NAL type determining unit 102A setsthe NAL type of the current picture to TP (S163).

<Operation (SEI Determining>

Next, the flow of the SEI determining process (step S103 in FIG. 18 )will be described with reference to FIG. 20 .

First, the SEI determining unit 104 determines whether the currentpicture is a random access point picture (S181). When the currentpicture is a random access point picture (Yes in S181), the SEIdetermining unit 104 sets the SEI of the current picture torecovery_point SEI (S182), and the process ends.

When the current picture is not a random access point picture (No inS181), the SEI determining unit 104 determines whether the currentpicture precedes in display order the recovery point immediatelypreceding in coding order (S183).

When the current picture precedes in display order the recovery pointimmediately preceding in coding order (Yes in S183), the SEI determiningunit 104 determines whether the current picture is included in the sameGOP as the second preceding recovery point in coding order (S184). Whenthe current picture is included in the same GOP as the second precedingrecovery point in coding order (Yes in S184), the SEI determining unit104 sets the SEI of the current picture to BLP SEI (S185).

On the other hand, when the current picture is included in a GOP that isdifferent from the GOP including the second preceding recovery point incoding order (No in S184), the SEI determining unit 104 sets the SEI ofthe current picture to LP SEI (S186).

Next, the SEI determining unit 104 determines whether the currentpicture is the last picture in the GOP in coding order (S187). When thecurrent picture is the last picture in the GOP in coding order (Yes inS187), the SEI determining unit 104 sets the SEI of the current pictureto LLP SEI (S188), and the process ends.

Furthermore, when the current picture follows in display order therecovery point immediately preceding in coding order (No in S183), theSEI determining unit 104 determines whether there is an uncoded picturepreceding the IRAP immediately preceding in coding order (S189). Whenthere is an uncoded picture preceding the IRAP immediately preceding incoding order (Yes in S189), the SEI determining unit 104 sets the SEI ofthe current picture to PTP SEI (S190), and the process ends.

When there is no uncoded picture preceding the IRAP immediatelypreceding in coding order (NO in S189), the SEI determining unit 104determines whether the current picture is included in the same GOP asthe second preceding recovery point in coding order (S191). When thecurrent picture is included in the same GOP as the second precedingrecovery point in coding order (Yes in S191), the SEI determining unit104 sets the SEI of the current picture to BTP SEI (S192). When thecurrent picture is included in a GOP that is different from the GOPincluding the second preceding recovery point in coding order (No inS191), the SEI determining unit 104 sets the SEI of the current pictureto TP SEI (S193).

Next, the SEI determining unit 104 determines whether the currentpicture is the last picture in the GOP in coding order (S194). When thecurrent picture is the last picture in the GOP in coding order (Yes inS194), the SEI determining unit 104 sets the SEI of the current pictureto LTP SEI (S195), and the process ends.

With the process described above, coded streams such as thoseillustrated in FIG. 21A, FIG. 21B, FIG. 22 , and FIG. 23 are generated.FIG. 21A and FIG. 21B illustrate an example of a case where the largestTemporalId is 4, FIG. 22 illustrates an example of a case where thelargest TemporalId is 3, and FIG. 23 illustrates an example of a casewhere the largest TemporalId is 2.

The meaning of each SEI is as described below. RP SEI means a picturethat only contains random accessible I-slices. LP SEI means a picturepreceding an RP in display order. TP SEI means a picture following an RPin display order. BLP SEI means an LP picture included in the same GOPas the second preceding RP in coding order. BTP SEI means a TP pictureincluded in the same GOP as the second preceding RP in coding order. LLPSEI means an LP picture which is the last picture in a GOP in codingorder. LTP SEI means a TP picture which is the last picture in a GOP incoding order. PTP SEI means a TP picture that is still followed by an LPpicture in coding order.

Furthermore, specific examples of the reference picture set is the sameas in Embodiment 1 (FIG. 14 , FIG. 15 , and FIG. 16 ), and thusdescription is omitted.

<Advantageous Effect>

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible tolower the display frame rate and display video even in a system thatdoes not have the capacity to allow decoding at the maximum frame rateof a coded stream.

Furthermore, in the HEVC standard (NPL 1), it is prohibited for a TP tobe coded ahead of an LP. In this embodiment, an IRAP is not presentmidway through the stream of pictures, and thus a situation in which aTP is coded ahead of an LP does not arise. Furthermore, sinceRecovery_point SEI is used instead of an IRAP in midstream, randomaccess can be realized. In other words, random access and temporalscalability are realized while conforming to the HEVC standard.

In this manner, the image coding apparatus 100A according to thisembodiment can realize the same advantageous effect as the image codingapparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1.

Embodiment 3

<Overall Configuration>

The configuration of the image coding apparatus 100 according to thisembodiment is the same as in Embodiment 1 (FIG. 7 ), and thusdescription is omitted.

<Operation (As a Whole)>

The flow of the coding process as a whole is the same as in Embodiment 1(FIG. 8 ), and thus description is omitted.

<Operation (Coding Structure Determining)>

Next, the flow of the coding structure determining process (step S101 inFIG. 8 ) will be described with reference to FIG. 24 . FIG. 24 is aflowchart of a coding structure determining process according to thisembodiment.

The process illustrated in FIG. 24 adds step S125 to the processillustrated in FIG. 9 described in Embodiment 1. Furthermore, steps S121to S124 are the same as in Embodiment 1, and thus description isomitted.

After the coding structure determining unit 101 rearranges the picturesso that pictures with the largest TemporalId have odd-number times andthe rest of the pictures have even-number times (after S124), the codingstructure determining unit 101 advances the timing for coding thepictures with the largest TemporalId, as illustrated in FIG. 25A, FIG.25B, FIG. 26 , and FIG. 27 so that pictures of different GOPs do notintermix (S125). FIG. 25A and FIG. 25B illustrate an example of a casewhere the largest TemporalId is 4, FIG. 26 illustrates an example of acase where the largest TemporalId is 3, and FIG. 27 illustrates anexample of a case where the largest TemporalId is 2.

For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 25A and FIG. 25B, thepictures with diagonal line shading have been moved forward by six timeunits compared to FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B. By doing so, the pictures froman IRAP to the next IRAP are arranged in one cluster. In other words,the pictures are arranged consecutively on a GOP basis. Stateddifferently, pictures included in different GOPs do not intermix.

<Operation (NAL Type Determining>

Next, the flow of the NAL type determining process (S102 in FIG. 8 )will be described with reference to FIG. 28 . FIG. 28 is a flowchart ofa NAL type determining process according to this embodiment.

First, the NAL type determining unit 102 determines whether the currentpicture is a random access point picture (S201). When the currentpicture is a random access point picture (Yes in S201), the NAL typedetermining unit 102 sets the NAL type of the current picture to IRAP(S202).

When the current picture is not a random access point picture (No inS201), the NAL type determining unit 102 determines whether the currentpicture precedes in display order the IRAP immediately preceding incoding order (S203). When the current picture precedes in display orderthe IRAP immediately preceding in coding order (Yes in S203), the NALtype determining unit 102 sets the NAL type of the current picture to LP(S204). Otherwise (No in S203), the NAL type determining unit 102 setsthe NAL type of the current picture to TP (S205).

With the process described above, coded streams such as thoseillustrated in FIG. 25A, FIG. 25B, FIG. 26 , and FIG. 27 are generated.

Examples of reference picture sets according to this embodiment areillustrated in FIG. 29 , FIG. 30 , and FIG. 31 . It should be noted thatthe examples illustrated in FIG. 29 , FIG. 30 , and FIG. 31 are examplesfor the case where the largest TemporalId is 4.

FIG. 29 illustrates a set that prioritizes compression rate, and is aset in which coded pictures are referred to whenever possible. FIG. 30illustrates a set that enables reduction in the frame memory size to beused, and is a set in which preceding and subsequent pictures near thecurrent picture in display order are referred to. Furthermore, in orderto facilitate random accessing, this set is set so that only a pictureincluded in the same GOP as the current picture is referred to.

FIG. 31 illustrates a set that has balance between compression ratio andmemory size, and is a set in which a picture with TemporalId0 havingsmall coding error is referred to, or a preceding or subsequent picturenear the current picture in display order is referred to. Furthermore,in order to facilitate random access, this set is set so that only apicture included in the same GOP as the current picture is referred to.Furthermore, in this set, referring to a picture with the sameTennporalId is prohibited, in the same manner as a TSA picture in HEVC(NPL 1), to allow switching of the reproduction frame rate midwaythrough a coded stream.

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coding structureaccording to this embodiment. It should be noted that FIG. 32illustrates an example for the case where the largest TemporalId is 2.Furthermore, the time in the figure indicates the display order. In thisembodiment, the timing for coding the pictures with the largestTemporalId is accelerated, and thus the pictures with the largestTemporalId are prohibited from referring to some pictures. Specifically,a highest-layer picture with the largest TemporalId is coded withoutreference to a picture which is immediately following in display orderand is one layer lower. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 32 , B1 isprohibited from referring to B2.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 32 , a highest-layer picture (forexample, B7) immediately preceding in display order a picture belongingto the lowest layer can refer to a picture (for example, B6) which isimmediately preceding in display order and is one layer lower. Stateddifferently, a picture (for example, B5) which does not immediatelyprecede in display order a picture belonging to the lowest layer iscoded without reference to a picture which is immediately preceding indisplay order and is one layer lower.

As described earlier, in this embodiment, image coding apparatus 100selects one from among the three sets according to the reference pictureset identifier 123 inputted from the outside, and codes the selectedset. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the timing for coding (timing fordecoding) pictures with the largest TemporalId is accelerated. As such,there are fewer coded (decoded) pictures at the time of the coding(decoding) of the pictures with the largest TemporalId, and thus thereare fewer reference pictures that can be used by the pictures with thelargest TemporalId.

<Advantageous Effect>

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible tolower the display frame rate and display video even in a system thatdoes not have the capacity to allow decoding at the maximum frame rateof a coded stream.

Furthermore, since a TP is prohibited from referring to an LP, and an LPis not coded until the next IRAP after the coding of a TP, the imagecoding apparatus 100 or the image decoding apparatus can delete an LPpicture from the reference frame memory at the time of coding ordecoding. By doing so, the size of the reference frame memory can bereduced.

Furthermore, since pictures included in different GOPs do not intermix,the image decoding apparatus can easily extract the GOPs from the codedstream when performing trick play, etc.

Furthermore, accelerating the timing for coding the pictures with thelargest TemporalId reduces delay from the start of decoding todisplaying. Description will be carried out by comparing FIG. 10A andFIG. 10B with FIG. 25A and FIG. 25B. The displaying of I0 starts fromtime 8 in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, whereas displaying is started at time 6in FIG. 25A and FIG. 25B (this embodiment). In this manner, in thisembodiment, the display start time is accelerated. Accordingly, sincethe time from when decoding is instructed by the user to when displayingis started can be shortened, a system having a fast response can beconstructed.

In this manner, by accelerating the timing for coding the pictures withthe highest TemporalId, avoidance of GOP intermixing and reduction ofdelays can be realized. On the other hand, because the timing for codingthe pictures with the largest TemporalId is accelerated, there are fewerreference pictures that can be used by the pictures with the largestTemporalId. Accordingly, there is concern over the deterioration ofcoding efficiency. However, a picture with a TemporalId other than thelargest TemporalId does not refer to a picture with the largestTemporalId. In other words, the frequency at which a picture with thelargest TemporalId is referred to by another pictures is low. Therefore,even if the picture quality of pictures with the largest TemporalIddeteriorates, the error does not spread to other pictures. As such, evenif there are fewer reference pictures with the largest TemporalId, thereis little deterioration in overall coding efficiency. In other words, inthis embodiment, intermixing of GOPs can be avoided while suppressingcoding efficiency deterioration.

In this manner, the image coding apparatus 100 according to the presentembodiment hierarchically codes the plurality of pictures to generate abitstream (coded stream 124). The image coding apparatus 100 codes eachpicture of the plurality of pictures, which belongs to any one of aplurality of layers, with reference to a picture belonging to a layerthat is the same as or lower than the layer to which the picturebelongs, and without reference to a picture belonging to a layer that ishigher than the layer to which the picture belongs. The image codingapparatus 100 codes the coded pictures and time information(au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1) indicating the decoding times of the codedpictures, to generate a bitstream (coded stream 124). The timeinformation indicates that the decoding times of low-layer picturesother than highest-layer pictures belonging to the highest hierarchicallayer, among the plurality of pictures, are set at equal intervals.Stated differently, the image coding apparatus 100 codes highest-layerpictures and low-layer pictures in an alternating manner.

For example, the frame rate of the low-layer pictures is half the framerate of the plurality of pictures. For example, the frame rate of thelow-layer pictures is 60 fps, and the frame rate of the plurality ofpictures is 120 fps.

Accordingly, the image coding apparatus 100 can generate a codedbitstream in which the decoding times of the low-layer pictures otherthan highest-layer pictures belonging to the highest hierarchical layerare set at equal intervals. Therefore, when the frame rate of thepictures in all layers is 120 fps and the frame rate of low-layerpictures is 60 fps for example, the low-layer pictures can be decoded byan image decoding apparatus having a 60-fps decoding capacity. In thismanner, the image coding apparatus 100 can generate a coded bitstreamthat can be decoded efficiently by the image decoding apparatus.

In addition, time information (au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1) indicatesthat the decoding time of a picture preceding a random accessibleI-picture in display order is ahead of the decoding time of a picturefollowing the I-picture in display order. With this, the capacity of thereference frame memory of the image decoding apparatus can be reduced.

Furthermore, the plurality of pictures are included in any one of aplurality of groups of pictures (GOPs) each of which includes at leastone I-picture and pictures which are consecutive in display order. Thedecoding times of the plurality of pictures are set so that picturesincluded in each group of pictures are decoded consecutively, withoutthe intervention of the decoding of a picture included in another groupof pictures. With this, the image coding apparatus 100 can generate acoded bitstream that can be coded by an image decoding apparatus withoutperforming a special process.

Embodiment 4

<Overall Configuration>

The configuration of the image coding apparatus 100 according to thisembodiment is the same as in Embodiment 1 (FIG. 7 ), and thusdescription is omitted.

<Operation (As a Whole)>

The flow of the coding process as a whole is the same as in Embodiment 1(FIG. 8 ), and thus description is omitted.

<Operation (Coding Structure Determining)>

Next, the flow of the coding structure determining process (step S101 inFIG. 8 ) will be described with reference to FIG. 33 . FIG. 33 is aflowchart of a coding structure determining process according to thisembodiment.

The process illustrated in FIG. 33 adds step S126 and S127 to theprocess illustrated in FIG. 9 described in Embodiment 1. Furthermore,steps S121 to S124 are the same as in Embodiment 1, and thus descriptionis omitted.

After the coding structure determining unit 101 rearranges the picturesso that pictures with the largest TemporalId have odd-number times andthe rest of the pictures have even-number times (after S124), the codingstructure determining unit 101 advances the timing for coding thepictures with the largest TemporalId, as illustrated in FIG. 34A, FIG.34B, FIG. 35 , and FIG. 36 , to have equal intervals between decodingstart times (S126). FIG. 34A and FIG. 34B illustrate an example of acase where the largest TemporalId is 4, FIG. 35 illustrates an exampleof a case where the largest TemporalId is 3, and FIG. 36 illustrates anexample of a case where the largest TemporalId is 2.

For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 34A and FIG. 34B, thepictures with diagonal line shading have been moved forward by eighttime units compared to FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B. Accordingly, the gapbetween pictures is eliminated, and when the image decoding apparatusreproduces the coded stream at the maximum frame rate, one picture isdecoded in one time unit.

Next, the coding structure determining unit 101 divides the plurality ofpictures into groups so that the pictures from a random access point tothe next random access point are included in the same GOP, in the samemanner as in step S123 (S127). For example, in the example illustratedin FIG. 34A and FIG. 34B, B17, which is included in the same GOP as I32in Embodiment 1, is included in the same GOP as I0 due to this process.

<Operation (NAL Type Determining>

The flow of the NAL type determining process is the same as inEmbodiment 3 (FIG. 28 ), and thus description is omitted.

With the process described above, coded streams such as thoseillustrated in FIG. 34A, FIG. 34B, FIG. 35 , and FIG. 36 are generated.

Examples of reference picture sets according to this embodiment areillustrated in FIG. 37 , FIG. 38 , and FIG. 39 . It should be noted thatthe examples illustrated in FIG. 37 , FIG. 38 , and FIG. 39 are examplesfor the case where the largest TemporalId is 4.

FIG. 37 illustrates a set that prioritizes compression rate, and is aset in which coded pictures are referred to whenever possible. FIG. 38illustrates a set that enables reduction in the frame memory size to beused, and is a set in which preceding and subsequent pictures near thecurrent picture in display order are referred to. Furthermore, in orderto facilitate random accessing, this set is set so that only a pictureincluded in the same GOP as the current picture is referred to.

FIG. 39 illustrates a set that has balance between compression ratio andmemory size, and is a set in which a picture with TemporalId0 havingsmall coding error is referred to, or a preceding or subsequent picturenear the current picture in display order is referred to. Furthermore,in order to facilitate random access, this set is set so that only apicture included in the same GOP as the current picture is referred to.Furthermore, in this set, referring to a picture with the sameTennporalId is prohibited, in the same manner as a TSA picture in HEVC(NPL 1), to allow switching of the reproduction frame rate midwaythrough a coded stream.

As described earlier, in this embodiment, image coding apparatus 100selects one from among the three sets according to the reference pictureset identifier 123 inputted from the outside, and codes the selectedset. Furthermore, the timing for coding (timing for decoding) pictureswith the largest TemporalId is accelerated further than in the examplesin Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 3. As such, there are fewer coded(decoded) pictures at the time of the coding (decoding) of the pictureswith the largest TemporalId, and thus there are fewer reference picturesthat can be used by the pictures with the largest TemporalId.

<Advantageous Effect>

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible tolower the display frame rate and display video even in a system thatdoes not have the capacity to allow decoding at the maximum frame rateof a coded stream.

Furthermore, since a TP is prohibited from referring to an LP, and an LPis not coded until the next IRAP after the coding of a TP, the imagecoding apparatus 100 or the image decoding apparatus can delete an LPpicture from the reference frame memory at the time of coding ordecoding. By doing so, the size of the reference frame memory can bereduced.

Furthermore, since pictures included in different GOPs do not intermix,the image decoding apparatus can easily extract the GOPs from the codedstream when performing trick play, etc.

Furthermore, since the decoding interval of the pictures is madeuniform, simplification of the system can be realized. For example, whenreproducing video at the maximum frame rate, it is sufficient that theimage decoding apparatus decodes one picture in one time unit, and thusdecoding interval does not need to be switched according to the picture.

In this manner, by accelerating the timing for coding the pictures withthe highest TemporalId, avoidance of GOP intermixing, reduction ofdelays, and uniformity of decoding interval can be realized. On theother hand, because the timing for coding the pictures with the largestTemporalId is accelerated, there are fewer reference pictures that canbe used by the pictures with the largest TemporalId. Accordingly, thereis concern over the deterioration of coding efficiency. However, apicture with a TemporalId other than the largest TemporalId does notrefer to a picture with the largest TemporalId. In other words, thefrequency at which a picture with the largest TemporalId is referred toby another pictures is low. Therefore, even if the picture quality ofpictures with the largest TemporalId deteriorates, the error does notspread to other pictures. As such, even if there are fewer referencepictures with the largest TemporalId, there is little deterioration inoverall coding efficiency. In other words, in this embodiment,intermixing of GOPs can be avoided while suppressing coding efficiencydeterioration.

In this manner, the image coding apparatus 100 according to thisembodiment, can realize the same advantageous effect as the image codingapparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1.

Embodiment 5

In this embodiment, an image decoding apparatus that decodes the codedstream generated by the image coding apparatus 100 according toEmbodiment 1 will be described.

<Overall Configuration>

FIG. 40 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an imagedecoding apparatus 200 according to this embodiment. The image decodingapparatus 200 illustrated in FIG. 40 decodes the coded stream 221 togenerate images 224. The coded stream 221 is, for example, the codedstream 124 generated by the image coding apparatus 100 according toEmbodiment 1

The image decoding apparatus 200 includes a reproduction GOP extractingunit 201, a decoding unit 202, a decoding determining unit 203, and adisplay unit 204.

<Operation (As a Whole)>

Next, the flow of the decoding process as a whole will be described withreference to FIG. 41 . FIG. 41 is a flowchart of the decoding processaccording to this embodiment.

First, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 extracts a GOP to bereproduced, from coded stream 221 (S301).

Next, the decoding unit 202 sets 0, as an initial value, to the variablecalled IRAP count (S302).

Next, the decoding unit decodes au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1 andpic_dpb_output_delay from the coded stream 221 (S303), and waits untilthe time au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1+1 (S304).

Next, the decoding unit 202 decodes the NAL type from the coded stream221 (S305), and determines whether the NAL type is IRAP (S307). When theNAL type is IRAP (Yes in S307), the decoding unit 202 adds 1 to the IRAPcounter (S308).

Next, the decoding determining unit 203 determines whether the IRAPcounter is greater than 1 (S309). Furthermore, the decoding determiningunit 203 determines whether the NAL type is any of BLP, BTP, LLP, andLTP (S310 and S311).

When the IRAP counter is greater than 1 and the NAL type is none of BLP,BTP, LLP, and LTP (Yes in S309 and No in S310), the image decodingapparatus 200 transfers the process to the next picture withoutperforming the decoding process. Furthermore, when the IRAP counter isless than or equal to 1 and the NAL type is one of BLP, BTP, LLP, andLTP (No in S309 and Yes in S311), the image decoding apparatus 200 doesnot perform the decoding process, and the process transitions to thenext picture. By doing so, the image decoding apparatus 200 determineswhether the current picture is included in the reproduction GOP, anddoes not decode the current picture when the current picture is notincluded in the reproduction GOP.

Description will be carried out using the example in FIG. 10A and FIG.10B. Furthermore, the underlined pictures are included in thereproduction GOP. In this case, the coded stream from I32 to B47 isextracted by the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201. According to theabove determining, B11, B13, B15, I64, B56, and B52 are not included inthe reproduction GOP, and their decoding is skipped.

On the other hand, when the IRAP counter is greater than 1 and the NALtype is one of BLP, BTP, LLP, and LTP (Yes in S309 and Yes in S310), orwhen the IRAP counter is less than or equal to 1 and the NAL type isnone of BLP, BTP, LLP, and LTP (No in S309 and No in S311), the decodingdetermining unit 203 determines whether the NAL type is TP (S312). Whenthe NAL type is TP (Yes in S312), the decoding determining unit 203deletes the LP pictures from the reference frame memory (S313). This isbecause, due to the constraints that a TP picture is prohibited fromreferring to an LP picture, and that, after a TP picture, an LP pictureis not coded until the next IRAP in coding order, no picture refers toan LP picture after a TP picture.

Next, the decoding unit codes the TemporalId (S314). The decodingdetermining unit 203 determines whether the TemporalId is less than orequal to reproductionTId 223 which is inputted from the outside (S315).When the TemporalId is greater than reproductionTId 223 (No in S315),the image decoding apparatus 200 does not decode the current picture,and shifts the process to the next picture. With this process, temporalscalability can be implemented.

When the TemporalId is less than or equal to reproductionTId 223 (Yes inS315), the decoding unit 202 decodes the reference picture set (S316),and decodes the picture (S317). Next, the decoding unit 202 transmits,to the display unit 204, a request signal for requesting that thedecoded picture be displayed at the timeau_cpb_removal_delay_minus1+1+pic_dpb_output_delay (S318).

Next, decoding determining unit 203 determines whether the NAL type isone of LLP and LTP and the IRAP counter is 1 (S319 and S320). When theNAL type is one of LLP and LTP and the IRAP counter is not 1 (Yes inS319 and No in S320), the decoding determining unit 203 determines thatthe last picture in the reproduction GOP has been decoded and theprocess ends.

Description will be carried out using the example in FIG. 10A and FIG.10B. The underlined pictures are included in the reproduction GOP. Inthis case, the coded stream from I32 to B47 is extracted by thereproduction GOP extracting unit 201. The decoding determining unit 203determines that all the pictures of the reproduction GOP have beenprocessed after the end of the processing of B47 which is an LTP afterI64 which is the second IRAP, and the process ends.

When the NAL type is neither LLP nor LTP (No in S319), or when the IRAPcounter is 1 (Yes in S320), the process from step S303 onward isperformed on the next picture.

<Operation (Reproduction GOP Obtaining)>

Next, the flow of the reproduction GOP obtaining process (S301 in FIG.41 ) will be described with reference to FIG. 42 . FIG. 42 is aflowchart of the reproduction GOP obtaining process according to thisembodiment.

First, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 searches the codedstream 221 for the IRAP picture at reproduction position 222 (S331,S332, and S333). Specifically, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201decodes the NAL type (S331), determines whether the NAL type is IRAP(S332), and, when the NAL type is IRAP (Yes in S332), determines whetherthe picture is the picture at reproduction position 222 (S333). Thereproduction GOP extracting unit 201 performs this series of processessequentially from the lead picture in the coded stream 221. Then, thereproduction GOP extracting unit 201 sets the searched-out IRAP pictureat reproduction position 222 as the obtaining start point picture(S334).

Next, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 initializes the IRAPcounter to 1 (S335).

Next, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 decodes the NAL type ofthe current picture (S336), and determines whether the NAL type is IRAP(S337). When the NAL type is IRAP (Yes in S337), the reproduction GOPextracting unit 201 adds 1 to the IRAP counter (S338).

Furthermore, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 determines whetherthe NAL type is LLP or LTP (S339). Furthermore, the reproduction GOPextracting unit 201 determines whether the IRAP counter is 1 (S340).When the NAL type is LLP or LTP, and the IRAP counter is not 1 (Yes inS339 and No in S340), the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 ends thesearch, and sets the current picture as the obtaining end point (S341).

Furthermore, when the NAL type is neither LLP nor LTP (No in S339), orthe IRAP counter is 1 (Yes in S340), the reproduction GOP extractingunit 201 continues the search, and performs the process from step S336onward on the next picture from the obtaining start point.

Next, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 obtains, from the codedstream 221, the pictures from the obtaining start point to the obtainingend point, and outputs the obtained pictures to the decoding unit 202(S342).

<Advantageous Effect>

As described thus far, the image decoding apparatus 200 according tothis embodiment is capable of extracting a specified reproduction GOPfrom the coded streams illustrated in FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 11 , andFIG. 12 according to Embodiment 1, and decoding and reproducing only thepictures included in that GOP. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain thesame advantageous effect as in Embodiment 1.

In this manner, the image decoding apparatus 200 according to thisembodiment decodes the bitstream (coded stream 221) generated byhierarchically coding a plurality of pictures each belonging to any oneof a plurality of hierarchical layers. The image decoding apparatusdecodes, from the bitstream, time information(au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1) indicating decoding times of the pluralityof pictures. The image decoding apparatus 200 decodes each picture ofthe plurality of pictures according to the time information, withreference to a picture belonging to a layer that is the same or lowerthan the layer to which the picture belongs, and without reference to apicture belonging to a layer that is higher than the layer the picturebelongs. The time information indicates that the decoding times oflow-layer pictures other than highest-layer pictures belonging to thehighest hierarchical layer, among the plurality of pictures, are set atequal intervals.

For example, the frame rate of the low-layer pictures is half the framerate of the plurality of pictures. For example, the frame rate of thelow-layer pictures is 60 fps, and the frame rate of the plurality ofpictures is 120 fps.

Accordingly, when the frame rate of the pictures in all layers is 120fps and the frame rate of low-layer pictures is 60 fps for example, thelow-layer pictures can be decoded by an image decoding apparatus havinga 60-fps decoding capacity. In this manner, the image decoding apparatus200 is capable of decoding images efficiently.

Embodiment 6

In this embodiment, an image decoding apparatus that decodes the codedstream generated by the image coding apparatus 200A according toEmbodiment 2 will be described.

<Overall Configuration>

The configuration of the image coding apparatus according to thisembodiment is the same as in Embodiment 5 (FIG. 40 ), and thusdescription is omitted.

<Operation (As a Whole)>

Next, the flow of the decoding process as a whole will be described withreference to FIG. 43 . FIG. 43 is a flowchart of the decoding processaccording to this embodiment. The process illustrated in FIG. 43 addsstep S306A to the process illustrated in FIG. 41 . Furthermore, stepsS307A, S310A, S311A, and S319A are different from steps S307, S310,S311, and S319. Furthermore, the process illustrated in FIG. 43 does notinclude steps S312 and S313.

First, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 extracts a GOP to bereproduced from coded stream 221 (S301).

Next, the decoding unit 202 sets 0, as an initial value, to the variablecalled IRAP count (S302).

Next, the decoding unit decodes au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1 andpic_dpb_output_delay from the coded stream 221 (S303), and waits untilthe time au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1+1 (S304).

Next, the decoding unit 202 decodes the NAL type from the coded stream221 (S305 and S306A), and determines whether the SEI is recovery_pointSEI (S307A). When the SEI is recovery_point SEI (Yes in S307A), thedecoding unit 202 adds 1 to the IRAP counter (S308).

Next, the decoding determining unit 203 determines whether the IRAPcounter is greater than 1 (S309). Furthermore, the decoding determiningunit 203 determines if the SEI is any one of BLP SEI, BTP SEI, LLP SEI,and LTP SEI (S310A and S311A).

When the IRAP counter is greater than 1 and the SEI is none of BLP SEI,BTP SEI, LLP SEI, and LTP SEI (Yes in S309 and No in S310A), the imagedecoding apparatus 200 transfers the process to the next picture withoutperforming the decoding process. Furthermore, when the IRAP counter isless than or equal to 1 and the SEI is one of BLP SEI, BTP SEI, LLP SEI,and LTP SEI (No in S309 and Yes in S311A), the image decoding apparatus200 does not perform the decoding process, and the process transitionsto the next picture. By doing so, the image decoding apparatus 200determines whether the current picture is included in the reproductionGOP, and does not decode the current picture when the current picture isnot included in the reproduction GOP.

Description will be carried out using the example in FIG. 21A and FIG.21B. Furthermore, the underlined pictures are included in thereproduction GOP. In this case, the coded stream from I32 to B47 isextracted by the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201. According to theabove determining, B11, B13, B15, I64, B56, and B52 are not included inthe reproduction GOP, and their decoding is skipped.

When the IRAP counter is greater than 1 and the SEI is one of BLP SEI,BTP SEI, LLP SEI, and LTP SEI (Yes in S309 and Yes in S310A), or whenthe IRAP counter is less than or equal to 1 and the SEI is none of BLPSEI, BTP SEI, LLP SEI, and LTP SEI (No in S309 and No in S311A), thedecoding unit 202 decodes the TemporalId (S314). The decodingdetermining unit 203 determines whether the TemporalId is less than orequal to reproductionTId 223 which is inputted from the outside (S315).When the TemporalId is greater than reproductionTId 223 (No in S315),the image decoding apparatus 200 does not decode the current picture,and shifts the process to the next picture. With this process, temporalscalability can be implemented.

When the TemporalId is less than or equal to reproductionTId 223 (Yes inS315), the decoding unit 202 decodes the reference picture set (S316),and decodes the picture (S317). Next, the decoding unit 202 transmits,to the display unit 204, a request signal for requesting that thedecoded picture be displayed at the timeau_cpb_removal_delay_minus1+1+pic_dpb_output_delay (S318).

Next, decoding determining unit 203 determines whether the SEI is one ofLLP SEI and LTP SEI and the IRAP counter is 1 (S319A and S320). When theSEI is one of LLP SEI and LTP SEI and the IRAP counter is not 1 (Yes inS319A and No in S320), the decoding determining unit 203 determines thatthe last picture in the reproduction GOP has been decoded and theprocess ends.

Description will be carried out using the example in FIG. 21A and FIG.21B. The underlined pictures are included in the reproduction GOP. Inthis case, the coded stream from I32 to B47 is extracted by thereproduction GOP extracting unit 201. The decoding determining unit 203determines that all the pictures of the reproduction GOP have beenprocessed after the end of the processing of B47 which is an LTP SEIafter I64 which is the second recovery_point SEI, and the process ends.

When the SEI is neither LLP SEI nor LTP SEI (No in S319A), or when theIRAP counter is 1 (Yes in S320), the process from step S303 onward isperformed on the next picture.

<Operation (Reproduction GOP Obtaining)>

Next, the flow of the reproduction GOP obtaining process (S301 in FIG.43 ) will be described with reference to FIG. 44 . FIG. 44 is aflowchart of the reproduction GOP obtaining process according to thisembodiment. It should be noted that steps S331A, S332A, S336A, S337A,and S339A in the process illustrated in FIG. 44 are different from stepsS331, S332, S336, S337, and S339 in the process illustrated in FIG. 42 .

First, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 searches the codedstream 221 for the recovery_point SEI picture at reproduction position222 (S331A, S332A, and S333A). Specifically, the reproduction GOPextracting unit 201 decodes the SEI (S331A), and determines whether theSEI is recovery_point SEI (S332A). When the SEI is recovery_point SEI(Yes in S332A), the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 determineswhether the picture is the picture at reproduction position 222 (S333).The reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 performs this series ofprocesses sequentially from the lead picture in the coded stream 221.Then, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 sets the searched-outrecovery_point SEI picture at reproduction position 222 as the obtainingstart point picture (S334).

Next, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 initializes the IRAPcounter to 1 (S335).

Next, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 decodes the SEI of thecurrent picture (S336A), and determines whether the SEI is therecovery_point SEI (S337A). When the SEI is the recovery_point SEI (Yesin S337), the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 adds 1 to the IRAPcounter (S338).

Furthermore, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 determines whetherthe SEI is LLP SEI or LTP SEI (S339A). Furthermore, the reproduction GOPextracting unit 201 determines whether the IRAP counter is 1 (S340).When the SEI is LLP SEI or LTP SEI, and the IRAP counter is not 1 (Yesin S339A and No in S340), the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 endsthe search, and sets the current picture as the obtaining end point(S341).

Furthermore, when the SEI is neither LLP SEI nor LTP SEI (No in S339A),or the IRAP counter is 1 (Yes in S340), the reproduction GOP extractingunit 201 continues the search, and performs the process from step S336Aonward on the next picture from the obtaining start point picture.

Next, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 obtains, from the codedstream 221, the pictures from the obtaining start point to the obtainingend point, and outputs the obtained pictures to the decoding unit 202(S342).

<Advantageous Effect>

As described thus far, the image decoding apparatus 200 according tothis embodiment is capable of extracting a specified reproduction GOPfrom the coded streams illustrated in FIG. 21A, FIG. 21B, FIG. 22 , andFIG. 23 according to Embodiment 2, and decoding and reproducing only thepictures included in that GOP. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain thesame advantageous effect as in Embodiment 2.

Embodiment 7

In this embodiment, an image decoding apparatus that decodes the codedstream generated by the image coding apparatus 100 according toEmbodiment 3 will be described.

<Overall Configuration>

The configuration of the image coding apparatus 200 according to thisembodiment is the same as in Embodiment 5 (FIG. 40 ), and thusdescription is omitted.

<Operation (As a Whole)>

Next, the flow of the decoding process as a whole will be described withreference to FIG. 45 . FIG. 45 is a flowchart of the decoding processaccording to this embodiment. It should be noted that step S319B in theprocess illustrated in FIG. 45 is different from step S319 in theprocess illustrated in FIG. 41 . Furthermore, the process illustrated inFIG. 45 does not include steps S302 and S306 to S311. Other than that,the process is the same as in Embodiment 5 (FIG. 41 ), and thusdescription is omitted.

In step S319B, the image decoding apparatus 200 determines whether thecurrent picture is the last picture in the GOP (S319B). When the currentpicture is the last picture in the GOP (Yes in S319B), the imagedecoding apparatus 200 ends the process. Furthermore, when the currentpicture is not the last picture in the GOP (No in S319B), the imagedecoding apparatus 200 performs the process from step S303 onward on thenext picture.

<Operation (Reproduction GOP Obtaining)>

Next, the flow of the reproduction GOP obtaining process (S301 in FIG.45 ) will be described with reference to FIG. 46 . FIG. 46 is aflowchart of the reproduction GOP obtaining process according to thisembodiment. It should be noted that steps S340A and S341A in the processillustrated in FIG. 46 are different from steps S340 and S341 in theprocess illustrated in FIG. 42 . Furthermore, the process illustrated inFIG. 46 does not include steps S335 and S337 to S339. Furthermore, stepsS331, S332, S333, and S334 are the same as in Embodiment 5 (FIG. 42 ),and thus description is omitted.

After step S334, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 decodes theNAL type (S336), and searches for the IRAP picture (S340A).Specifically, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 determineswhether the NAL type of the current picture is IRAP (S340A). When theNAL type of the current picture is IRAP (Yes in S340A), the reproductionGOP extracting unit 201 sets the picture immediately preceding thecurrent picture as the obtaining end point picture (S341A).

Next, the reproduction GOP extracting unit 201 obtains, from the codedstream 221, the pictures from the obtaining start point to the obtainingend point, and outputs the obtained pictures to the decoding unit 202(S342).

When the NAL type of the current picture is not IRAP (No in S340A), thereproduction GOP extracting unit 201 performs the process from step S336onward on the next picture.

<Advantageous Effect>

As described thus far, the image decoding apparatus 200 according tothis embodiment is capable of extracting a specified reproduction GOPfrom the coded streams illustrated in FIG. 25A, FIG. 25B, FIG. 26 , andFIG. 27 according to Embodiment 3, and decoding and reproducing only thepictures included in that GOP. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain thesame advantageous effect as in Embodiment 3.

In this manner, the image decoding apparatus 200 according to thisembodiment decodes the bitstream (coded stream 221) generated byhierarchically coding a plurality of pictures each belonging to any oneof a plurality of hierarchical layers. The image decoding apparatusdecodes, from the bitstream, time information(au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1) indicating decoding times of the pluralityof pictures. The image decoding apparatus 200 decodes each of theplurality of pictures according to the time information, with referenceto a picture belonging to a layer that is the same or lower than thelayer to which the current picture belongs, and without reference to apicture belonging to a layer that is higher than the layer the currentpicture belongs. The time information indicates that the decoding timesof low-layer pictures other than highest-layer pictures belonging to thehighest hierarchical layer, among the plurality of pictures, are set atequal intervals.

For example, the frame rate of the low-layer pictures is half the framerate of the plurality of pictures. For example, the frame rate of thelow-layer pictures is 60 fps, and the frame rate of the plurality ofpictures is 120 fps.

Accordingly, when the frame rate of the pictures in all layers is 120fps and the frame rate of low-layer pictures is 60 fps for example, thelow-layer pictures can be decoded by an image decoding apparatus havinga 60-fps decoding capacity. In this manner, the image decoding apparatus200 is capable of decoding images efficiently.

In addition, time information (au_cpb_removal_delay_minus1) indicatesthat the decoding time of a picture preceding a random accessibleI-picture in display order is ahead of the decoding time of a picturefollowing the I-picture in display order. With this, the capacity of thereference frame memory of the image decoding apparatus 200 can bereduced.

Furthermore, the plurality of pictures are included in any one of aplurality of groups of pictures (GOPs) each of which includes at leastone I-picture and pictures which are consecutive in display order. Thedecoding times of the plurality of pictures are set so that picturesincluded in each group of pictures are decoded consecutively, withoutthe intervention of the decoding of a picture included in another groupof pictures. Accordingly, the image decoding apparatus 200 can decodeimages without performing a special process.

Embodiment 8

In this embodiment, an image decoding apparatus that decodes the codedstream generated by the image coding apparatus 100 according toEmbodiment 4 will be described.

<Overall Configuration>

The configuration of the image coding apparatus 200 according to thisembodiment is the same as in Embodiment 5 (FIG. 40 ), and thusdescription is omitted.

<Operation (As a Whole)>

Next, the flow of the decoding process as a whole will be described withreference to FIG. 47 . FIG. 41 is a flowchart of the decoding processaccording to this embodiment. It should be noted that step S304A in theprocess illustrated in FIG. 47 is different from step S304 in theprocess illustrated in FIG. 45 . Other than that, the process is thesame as in Embodiment 7 (FIG. 45 ), and thus description is omitted.

In step S304A, the decoding unit 202 waits until a fixed time elapsesfrom the start of decoding of the preceding picture. To describe usingthe example illustrated in FIG. 34A and FIG. 34B, the decoding unit 202starts the decoding of B1 after the elapse of 1 time unit from the startof the decoding of I0, and then decodes P16 after the elapse of 1 timeunit. In this manner, the decoding unit 202 starts the decoding ofpictures at equal intervals.

<Operation (Reproduction GOP Obtaining)>

The flow of the reproduction GOP obtaining process (S301 in FIG. 47 ) isthe same as in Embodiment 7 (FIG. 46 ), and thus description is omitted.

<Advantageous Effect>

As described thus far, according to this embodiment, it is possible toextract a specified reproduction GOP from the coded streams illustratedin FIG. 34A, FIG. 34B, FIG. 35 , and FIG. 36 according to Embodiment 4,and decode and reproduce only the pictures included in that GOP.Accordingly, it is possible to obtain the same advantageous effect as inEmbodiment 4.

Although an image coding apparatus and an image decoding apparatusaccording to the embodiments have been described thus far, the presentdisclosure is not limited to such embodiments.

Furthermore, the respective processing units included in the imagecoding apparatus and the image decoding apparatus according to theabove-described embodiments are typically implemented as an LSI which isan integrated circuit. These processing units may be individuallyconfigured as single chips or may be configured so that a part or all ofthe processing units are included in a single chip.

Furthermore, the method of circuit integration is not limited to LSIs,and implementation through a dedicated circuit or a general-purposeprocessor is also possible. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) whichallows programming after LSI manufacturing or a reconfigurable processorwhich allows reconfiguration of the connections and settings of thecircuit cells inside the LSI may also be used.

In the respective embodiments, the respective structural elements areconfigured using dedicated hardware, but may also be implemented byexecuting software programs suited to the respective structuralelements. The respective structural elements may be implemented by aprogram execution unit such as a CPU or a processor reading andexecuting a software program recorded on a recording medium such as ahard disk or semiconductor memory.

Stated differently, the image coding apparatus and the image decodingapparatus include control circuitry and storage electrically connectedto the control circuitry (i.e., accessible from the control circuitry).The control circuitry includes at least one of dedicated hardware and aprogram executing unit. Furthermore, when the control circuitry includesa program executing unit, the storage records a software program that isexecuted by the program executing unit.

In addition, the present disclosure may be the aforementioned softwareprogram, or a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on whichthe aforementioned program is recorded. Furthermore, it should beobvious that the aforementioned program can be distributed via atransmission medium such as the Internet.

Furthermore, the present disclosure may be implemented as a receivingapparatus that receives a coded bitstream (coded stream) generated bythe above-described image coding apparatus. Furthermore, the receivingapparatus may include the above-described image decoding apparatus.Furthermore, the present disclosure may be implemented as a transmittingapparatus that transmits the coded bitstream (coded stream) generated bythe image coding apparatus.

Moreover, all numerical figures used in the forgoing description aremerely examples for describing the present disclosure in specific terms,and thus the present disclosure is not limited to the illustratednumerical figures.

Furthermore, the separation of the function blocks in the block diagramsis merely an example, and plural function blocks may be implemented as asingle function block, a single function block may be separated intoplural function blocks, or part of functions of a function block may betransferred to another function block. Furthermore, the functions offunction blocks having similar functions may be processed, in parallelor by time-sharing, by a single hardware or software.

Furthermore, the sequence in which the steps included in theabove-described image coding method and image decoding method areexecuted is given as an example to describe the present disclosure inspecific terms, and thus other sequences are possible. Furthermore, partof the above-described steps may be executed simultaneously (inparallel) with another step.

Furthermore, the processes described in each of the embodiments may beimplemented by integrated processing using a single apparatus (system),or may be implemented by distributed processing using pluralapparatuses. Furthermore, the computer for executing the above-describedprogram may be a single computer or plural computers. In other words,integrated processing may be performed or distributed processing may beperformed.

Although an image coding apparatus and an image decoding apparatusaccording to one or plural aspects of the present disclosure aredescribed based on the embodiments, the present disclosure is notlimited to such embodiments. Various modifications to the presentembodiments that can be conceived by those skilled in the art, and formsconfigured by combining structural elements in different embodiments,without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure areincluded in the scope of one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Embodiment 9

The processing described in each of the embodiments can be simplyimplemented in an independent computer system, by recording, in arecording medium, a program for implementing the configurations of themoving picture coding method (image coding method) and the movingpicture decoding method (image decoding method) described in each of theembodiments. The recording medium may be any recording medium as long asthe program can be recorded, such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, amagnetic optical disk, an IC card, and a semiconductor memory.

In addition, applications of the moving picture coding method (imagecoding method) and the moving picture decoding method (image decodingmethod) described in each of the embodiments and a system using the samewill be described. The system has a feature of having an image codingand decoding apparatus that includes an image coding apparatus using theimage coding method and an image decoding apparatus using the imagedecoding method. Other structural elements in the system can be changedas appropriate in accordance with the situation.

FIG. 48 illustrates an overall configuration of a content providingsystem ex100 for implementing content distribution services. The areafor providing communication services is divided into cells of desiredsize, and base stations ex106, ex107, ex108, ex109, and ex110 which arefixed wireless stations are placed in each of the cells.

The content providing system ex100 is connected to devices, such as acomputer ex111, a personal digital assistant (PDA) ex112, a cameraex113, a cellular phone ex114 and a game machine ex115, via the Internetex101, an Internet service provider ex102, a telephone network ex104, aswell as the base stations ex106 to ex110, respectively.

However, the configuration of the content providing system ex100 is notlimited to the configuration shown in FIG. 48 , and a combination inwhich any of the elements are connected is acceptable. In addition, eachdevice may be directly connected to the telephone network ex104, ratherthan via the base stations ex106 to ex110 which are the fixed wirelessstations. Furthermore, the devices may be interconnected to each othervia short distance wireless communication and so on.

The camera ex113 is a device capable of capturing video, such as adigital video camera. A camera ex116 is a device capable of capturingboth still images and video, such as a digital camera. Furthermore, thecellular phone ex114 may be a cellular phone operating under any one ofstandards such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)(registered trademark), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA),Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Long Term Evolution(LTE), and High Speed Packet Access (HSPA). Alternatively, the cellularphone ex114 may be a Personal Handyphone System (PHS) phone.

In the content providing system ex100, a streaming server ex103 isconnected to the camera ex113 and others via the telephone network ex104and the base station ex109, which enables distribution of images of alive show and others. In such a distribution, a content (for example,video of a music live show) captured by the user using the camera ex113is coded as described above in each of the embodiments (i.e., the camerafunctions as the image coding apparatus according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure), and the coded content is transmitted to thestreaming server ex103. On the other hand, the streaming server ex103carries out stream distribution of the transmitted content data to theclients upon their requests. The clients include the computer ex111, thePDA ex112, the camera ex113, the cellular phone ex114, and the gamemachine ex115 that are capable of decoding the above-mentioned codeddata. Each of the devices that have received the distributed datadecodes and reproduces the coded data (i.e., functions as the imagedecoding apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure).

The captured data may be coded by the camera ex113 or the streamingserver ex103 that transmits the data, or the coding processes may beshared between the camera ex113 and the streaming server ex103.Similarly, the distributed data may be decoded by the clients or thestreaming server ex103, or the decoding processes may be shared betweenthe clients and the streaming server ex103. Furthermore, the data of thestill images and video captured by not only the camera ex113 but alsothe camera ex116 may be transmitted to the streaming server ex103through the computer ex111. The coding processes may be performed by thecamera ex116, the computer ex111, or the streaming server ex103, orshared among them.

Furthermore, the coding and decoding processes may be performed by anLSI ex500 generally included in each of the computer ex111 and thedevices. The LSI ex500 may be configured of a single chip or a pluralityof chips. Software for coding and decoding video may be integrated intosome type of a recording medium (such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, anda hard disk) that is readable by the computer ex111 and others, and thecoding and decoding processes may be performed using the software.Furthermore, when the cellular phone ex114 is equipped with a camera,the video data obtained by the camera may be transmitted. The video datais data coded by the LSI ex500 included in the cellular phone ex114.

Furthermore, the streaming server ex103 may be composed of servers andcomputers, and may decentralize data and process the decentralized data,record, or distribute data.

As described above, the clients may receive and reproduce the coded datain the content providing system ex100. In other words, the clients canreceive and decode information transmitted by the user, and reproducethe decoded data in real time in the content providing system ex100, sothat the user who does not have any particular right and equipment canimplement personal broadcasting.

Aside from the example of the content providing system ex100, at leastone of the moving picture coding apparatus (image coding apparatus) andthe moving picture decoding apparatus (image decoding apparatus)described in each of embodiments may be implemented in a digitalbroadcasting system ex200 illustrated in FIG. 49 . More specifically, abroadcast station ex201 communicates or transmits, via radio waves to abroadcast satellite ex202, multiplexed data obtained by multiplexingaudio data and others onto video data. The video data is data coded bythe moving picture coding method described in each of embodiments (i.e.,data coded by the image coding apparatus according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure). Upon receipt of the multiplexed data, the broadcastsatellite ex202 transmits radio waves for broadcasting. Then, a home-useantenna ex204 with a satellite broadcast reception function receives theradio waves. Next, a device such as a television (receiver) ex300 and aset top box (STB) ex217 decodes the received multiplexed data, andreproduces the decoded data (i.e., functions as the image decodingapparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure).

Furthermore, a reader/recorder ex218 (i) reads and decodes themultiplexed data recorded on a recording medium ex215, such as a DVD anda BD, or (i) codes video signals in the recording medium ex215, and insome cases, writes data obtained by multiplexing an audio signal on thecoded data. The reader/recorder ex218 can include the moving picturedecoding apparatus or the moving picture coding apparatus as shown ineach of embodiments. In this case, the reproduced video signals aredisplayed on the monitor ex219, and can be reproduced by another deviceor system using the recording medium ex215 on which the multiplexed datais recorded. It is also possible to implement the moving picturedecoding apparatus in the set top box ex217 connected to the cable ex203for a cable television or to the antenna ex204 for satellite and/orterrestrial broadcasting, so as to display the video signals on themonitor ex219 of the television ex300. The moving picture decodingapparatus may be implemented not in the set top box but in thetelevision ex300.

FIG. 50 illustrates the television (receiver) ex300 that uses the movingpicture coding method and the moving picture decoding method describedin each of embodiments. The television ex300 includes: a tuner ex301that obtains or provides multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing audiodata onto video data, through the antenna ex204 or the cable ex203, etc.that receives a broadcast; a modulation/demodulation unit ex302 thatdemodulates the received multiplexed data or modulates data intomultiplexed data to be supplied outside; and amultiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex303 that demultiplexes the modulatedmultiplexed data into video data and audio data, or multiplexes videodata and audio data coded by a signal processing unit ex306 into data.

The television ex300 further includes: a signal processing unit ex306including an audio signal processing unit ex304 and a video signalprocessing unit ex305 that decode audio data and video data and codeaudio data and video data, respectively (which function as the imagecoding apparatus and the image decoding apparatus according to theaspects of the present disclosure); and an output unit ex309 including aspeaker ex307 that provides the decoded audio signal, and a display unitex308 that displays the decoded video signal, such as a display.Furthermore, the television ex300 includes an interface unit ex317including an operation input unit ex312 that receives an input of a useroperation. Furthermore, the television ex300 includes a control unitex310 that controls overall each constituent element of the televisionex300, and a power supply circuit unit ex311 that supplies power to eachof the elements. Other than the operation input unit ex312, theinterface unit ex317 may include: a bridge ex313 that is connected to anexternal device, such as the reader/recorder ex218; a slot unit ex314for enabling attachment of the recording medium ex216, such as an SDcard; a driver ex315 to be connected to an external recording medium,such as a hard disk; and a modem ex316 to be connected to a telephonenetwork. Here, the recording medium ex216 can electrically recordinformation using a non-volatile/volatile semiconductor memory elementfor storage. The constituent elements of the television ex300 areconnected to each other through a synchronous bus.

First, the configuration in which the television ex300 decodesmultiplexed data obtained from outside through the antenna ex204 andothers and reproduces the decoded data will be described. In thetelevision ex300, upon a user operation through a remote controllerex220 and others, the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex303demultiplexes the multiplexed data demodulated by themodulation/demodulation unit ex302, under control of the control unitex310 including a CPU. Furthermore, the audio signal processing unitex304 decodes the demultiplexed audio data, and the video signalprocessing unit ex305 decodes the demultiplexed video data, using thedecoding method described in each of embodiments, in the televisionex300. The output unit ex309 provides the decoded video signal and audiosignal outside, respectively. When the output unit ex309 provides thevideo signal and the audio signal, the signals may be temporarily storedin buffers ex318 and ex319, and others so that the signals arereproduced in synchronization with each other. Furthermore, thetelevision ex300 may read multiplexed data not through a broadcast andothers but from the recording media ex215 and ex216, such as a magneticdisk, an optical disk, and a SD card. Next, a configuration in which thetelevision ex300 codes an audio signal and a video signal, and transmitsthe data outside or writes the data on a recording medium will bedescribed. In the television ex300, upon a user operation through theremote controller ex220 and others, the audio signal processing unitex304 codes an audio signal, and the video signal processing unit ex305codes a video signal, under control of the control unit ex310 using thecoding method described in each of embodiments.

The multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex303 multiplexes the coded videosignal and audio signal, and provides the resulting signal outside. Whenthe multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex303 multiplexes the video signaland the audio signal, the signals may be temporarily stored in thebuffers ex320 and ex321, and others so that the signals are reproducedin synchronization with each other. Here, the buffers ex318, ex319,ex320, and ex321 may be plural as illustrated, or at least one buffermay be shared in the television ex300. Furthermore, data may be storedin a buffer so that the system overflow and underflow may be avoidedbetween the modulation/demodulation unit ex302 and themultiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex303, for example.

Furthermore, the television ex300 may include a configuration forreceiving an AV input from a microphone or a camera other than theconfiguration for obtaining audio and video data from a broadcast or arecording medium, and may code the obtained data. Although thetelevision ex300 can code, multiplex, and provide outside data in thedescription, it may be capable of only receiving, decoding, andproviding outside data but not the coding, multiplexing, and providingoutside data.

Furthermore, when the reader/recorder ex218 reads or writes multiplexeddata from or on a recording medium, one of the television ex300 and thereader/recorder ex218 may decode or code the multiplexed data, and thetelevision ex300 and the reader/recorder ex218 may share the decoding orcoding.

As an example, FIG. 51 illustrates a configuration of an informationreproducing/recording unit ex400 when data is read or written from or onan optical disk. The information reproducing/recording unit ex400includes constituent elements ex401, ex402, ex403, ex404, ex405, ex406,and ex407 to be described hereinafter. The optical head ex401 irradiatesa laser spot in a recording surface of the recording medium ex215 thatis an optical disk to write information, and detects reflected lightfrom the recording surface of the recording medium ex215 to read theinformation. The modulation recording unit ex402 electrically drives asemiconductor laser included in the optical head ex401, and modulatesthe laser light according to recorded data. The reproductiondemodulating unit ex403 amplifies a reproduction signal obtained byelectrically detecting the reflected light from the recording surfaceusing a photo detector included in the optical head ex401, anddemodulates the reproduction signal by separating a signal componentrecorded on the recording medium ex215 to reproduce the necessaryinformation.

The buffer ex404 temporarily holds the information to be recorded on therecording medium ex215 and the information reproduced from the recordingmedium ex215. The disk motor ex405 rotates the recording medium ex215.The servo control unit ex406 moves the optical head ex401 to apredetermined information track while controlling the rotation drive ofthe disk motor ex405 so as to follow the laser spot. The system controlunit ex407 controls overall the information reproducing/recording unitex400. The reading and writing processes can be implemented by thesystem control unit ex407 using various information stored in the bufferex404 and generating and adding new information as necessary, and by themodulation recording unit ex402, the reproduction demodulating unitex403, and the servo control unit ex406 that record and reproduceinformation through the optical head ex401 while being operated in acoordinated manner. The system control unit ex407 includes, for example,a microprocessor, and executes processing by causing a computer toexecute a program for read and write.

Although the optical head ex401 irradiates a laser spot in thedescription, it may perform high-density recording using near fieldlight.

FIG. 52 illustrates the recording medium ex215 that is the optical disk.On the recording surface of the recording medium ex215, guide groovesare spirally formed, and an information track ex230 records, in advance,address information indicating an absolute position on the diskaccording to change in a shape of the guide grooves. The addressinformation includes information for determining positions of recordingblocks ex231 that are a unit for recording data. Reproducing theinformation track ex230 and reading the address information in anapparatus that records and reproduces data can lead to determination ofthe positions of the recording blocks.

Furthermore, the recording medium ex215 includes a data recording areaex233, an inner circumference area ex232, and an outer circumferencearea ex234. The data recording area ex233 is an area for use inrecording the user data. The inner circumference area ex232 and theouter circumference area ex234 that are inside and outside of the datarecording area ex233, respectively are for specific use except forrecording the user data. The information reproducing/recording unit 400reads and writes coded audio, coded video data, or multiplexed dataobtained by multiplexing the coded audio and video data, from and on thedata recording area ex233 of the recording medium ex215.

Although an optical disk having a layer, such as a DVD and a BD isdescribed as an example in the description, the optical disk is notlimited to such, and may be an optical disk having a multilayerstructure and capable of being recorded on a part other than thesurface. Furthermore, the optical disk may have a structure formultidimensional recording/reproduction, such as recording ofinformation using light of colors with different wavelengths in the sameportion of the optical disk and for recording information havingdifferent layers from various angles.

Furthermore, a car ex210 having an antenna ex205 can receive data fromthe satellite ex202 and others, and reproduce video on a display devicesuch as a car navigation system ex211 set in the car ex210, in thedigital broadcasting system ex200. Here, a configuration of the carnavigation system ex211 will be a configuration, for example, includinga GPS receiving unit from the configuration illustrated in FIG. 50 . Thesame will be true for the configuration of the computer ex111, thecellular phone ex114, and others.

FIG. 53A illustrates the cellular phone ex114 that uses the movingpicture coding method and the moving picture decoding method describedin embodiments. The cellular phone ex114 includes: an antenna ex350 fortransmitting and receiving radio waves through the base station ex110; acamera unit ex365 capable of capturing moving and still images; and adisplay unit ex358 such as a liquid crystal display for displaying thedata such as decoded video captured by the camera unit ex365 or receivedby the antenna ex350. The cellular phone ex114 further includes: a mainbody unit including an operation key unit ex366; an audio output unitex357 such as a speaker for output of audio; an audio input unit ex356such as a microphone for input of audio; a memory unit ex367 for storingcaptured video or still pictures, recorded audio, coded or decoded dataof the received video, the still pictures, e-mails, or others; and aslot unit ex364 that is an interface unit for a recording medium thatstores data in the same manner as the memory unit ex367.

Next, an example of a configuration of the cellular phone ex114 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 53B. In the cellular phone ex114, amain control unit ex360 designed to control overall each unit of themain body including the display unit ex358 as well as the operation keyunit ex366 is connected mutually, via a synchronous bus ex370, to apower supply circuit unit ex361, an operation input control unit ex362,a video signal processing unit ex355, a camera interface unit ex363, aliquid crystal display (LCD) control unit ex359, amodulation/demodulation unit ex352, a multiplexing/demultiplexing unitex353, an audio signal processing unit ex354, the slot unit ex364, andthe memory unit ex367.

When a call-end key or a power key is turned ON by a user's operation,the power supply circuit unit ex361 supplies the respective units withpower from a battery pack so as to activate the cell phone ex114.

In the cellular phone ex114, the audio signal processing unit ex354converts the audio signals collected by the audio input unit ex356 invoice conversation mode into digital audio signals under the control ofthe main control unit ex360 including a CPU, ROM, and RAM. Then, themodulation/demodulation unit ex352 performs spread spectrum processingon the digital audio signals, and the transmitting and receiving unitex351 performs digital-to-analog conversion and frequency conversion onthe data, so as to transmit the resulting data via the antenna ex350.Also, in the cellular phone ex114, the transmitting and receiving unitex351 amplifies the data received by the antenna ex350 in voiceconversation mode and performs frequency conversion and theanalog-to-digital conversion on the data. Then, themodulation/demodulation unit ex352 performs inverse spread spectrumprocessing on the data, and the audio signal processing unit ex354converts it into analog audio signals, so as to output them via theaudio output unit ex357.

Furthermore, when an e-mail in data communication mode is transmitted,text data of the e-mail inputted by operating the operation key unitex366 and others of the main body is sent out to the main control unitex360 via the operation input control unit ex362. The main control unitex360 causes the modulation/demodulation unit ex352 to perform spreadspectrum processing on the text data, and the transmitting and receivingunit ex351 performs the digital-to-analog conversion and the frequencyconversion on the resulting data to transmit the data to the basestation ex110 via the antenna ex350. When an e-mail is received,processing that is approximately inverse to the processing fortransmitting an e-mail is performed on the received data, and theresulting data is provided to the display unit ex358.

When video, still images, or video and audio in data communication modeis or are transmitted, the video signal processing unit ex355 compressesand codes video signals supplied from the camera unit ex365 using themoving picture coding method shown in each of embodiments (i.e.,functions as the image coding apparatus according to the aspect of thepresent disclosure), and transmits the coded video data to themultiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex353. In contrast, during when thecamera unit ex365 captures video, still images, and others, the audiosignal processing unit ex354 codes audio signals collected by the audioinput unit ex356, and transmits the coded audio data to themultiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex353.

The multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex353 multiplexes the coded videodata supplied from the video signal processing unit ex355 and the codedaudio data supplied from the audio signal processing unit ex354, using apredetermined method. Then, the modulation/demodulation unit(modulation/demodulation circuit unit) ex352 performs spread spectrumprocessing on the multiplexed data, and the transmitting and receivingunit ex351 performs digital-to-analog conversion and frequencyconversion on the data so as to transmit the resulting data via theantenna ex350.

When receiving data of a video file which is linked to a Web page andothers in data communication mode or when receiving an e-mail with videoand/or audio attached, in order to decode the multiplexed data receivedvia the antenna ex350, the multiplexing/demultiplexing unit ex353demultiplexes the multiplexed data into a video data bit stream and anaudio data bit stream, and supplies the video signal processing unitex355 with the coded video data and the audio signal processing unitex354 with the coded audio data, through the synchronous bus ex370. Thevideo signal processing unit ex355 decodes the video signal using amoving picture decoding method corresponding to the moving picturecoding method shown in each of embodiments (i.e., functions as the imagedecoding apparatus according to the aspect of the present disclosure),and then the display unit ex358 displays, for instance, the video andstill images included in the video file linked to the Web page via theLCD control unit ex359. Furthermore, the audio signal processing unitex354 decodes the audio signal, and the audio output unit ex357 providesthe audio.

Furthermore, similarly to the television ex300, it is possible for aterminal such as the cellular phone ex114 to have 3 types ofimplementation configurations including not only (i) a transmitting andreceiving terminal including both a coding apparatus and a decodingapparatus, but also (ii) a transmitting terminal including only a codingapparatus and (iii) a receiving terminal including only a decodingapparatus. Although the digital broadcasting system ex200 receives andtransmits the multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing audio data ontovideo data in the description, the multiplexed data may be data obtainedby multiplexing not audio data but character data related to video ontovideo data, and may be not multiplexed data but video data itself.

As such, the moving picture coding method and the moving picturedecoding method in each of embodiments can be used in any of the devicesand systems described. Thus, the advantages described in each ofembodiments can be obtained.

Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to embodiments, andvarious modifications and revisions are possible without departing fromthe scope of the present disclosure.

Embodiment 10

Video data can be generated by switching, as necessary, between (i) themoving picture coding method or the moving picture coding apparatusshown in each of embodiments and (ii) a moving picture coding method ora moving picture coding apparatus in conformity with a differentstandard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1.

Here, when a plurality of video data that conforms to the differentstandards is generated and is then decoded, the decoding methods need tobe selected to conform to the different standards. However, since thestandard to which each of the plurality of the video data to be decodedconforms cannot be detected, there is a problem that an appropriatedecoding method cannot be selected.

In order to solve the problem, multiplexed data obtained by multiplexingaudio data and others onto video data has a structure includingidentification information indicating to which standard the video dataconforms. The specific structure of the multiplexed data including thevideo data generated in the moving picture coding method and by themoving picture coding apparatus shown in each of embodiments will behereinafter described. The multiplexed data is a digital stream in theMPEG-2 Transport Stream format.

FIG. 54 illustrates a structure of the multiplexed data. As illustratedin FIG. 54 , the multiplexed data can be obtained by multiplexing atleast one of a video stream, an audio stream, a presentation graphicsstream (PG), and an interactive graphics stream. The video streamrepresents primary video and secondary video of a movie, the audiostream (IG) represents a primary audio part and a secondary audio partto be mixed with the primary audio part, and the presentation graphicsstream represents subtitles of the movie. Here, the primary video isnormal video to be displayed on a screen, and the secondary video isvideo to be displayed on a smaller window in the primary video.Furthermore, the interactive graphics stream represents an interactivescreen to be generated by arranging the GUI components on a screen. Thevideo stream is coded in the moving picture coding method or by themoving picture coding apparatus shown in each of embodiments, or in amoving picture coding method or by a moving picture coding apparatus inconformity with a conventional standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, andVC-1. The audio stream is coded in accordance with a standard, such asDolby-AC-3, Dolby Digital Plus, MLP, DTS, DTS-HD, and linear PCM.

Each stream included in the multiplexed data is identified by PID. Forexample, 0x1011 is allocated to the video stream to be used for video ofa movie, 0x1100 to 0x111F are allocated to the audio streams, 0x1200 to0x121F are allocated to the presentation graphics streams, 0x1400 to0x141F are allocated to the interactive graphics streams, 0x1B00 to0x1B1F are allocated to the video streams to be used for secondary videoof the movie, and 0x1A00 to 0x1A1F are allocated to the audio streams tobe used for the secondary audio to be mixed with the primary audio.

FIG. 55 schematically illustrates how data is multiplexed. First, avideo stream ex235 composed of video frames and an audio stream ex238composed of audio frames are transformed into a stream of PES packetsex236 and a stream of PES packets ex239, and further into TS packetsex237 and TS packets ex240, respectively. Similarly, data of apresentation graphics stream ex241 and data of an interactive graphicsstream ex244 are transformed into a stream of PES packets ex242 and astream of PES packets ex245, and further into TS packets ex243 and TSpackets ex246, respectively. These TS packets are multiplexed into astream to obtain multiplexed data ex247.

FIG. 56 illustrates how a video stream is stored in a stream of PESpackets in more detail. The first bar in FIG. 56 shows a video framestream in a video stream. The second bar shows the stream of PESpackets. As indicated by arrows denoted as yy1, yy2, yy3, and yy4 inFIG. 56 , the video stream is divided into pictures as I pictures, Bpictures, and P pictures each of which is a video presentation unit, andthe pictures are stored in a payload of each of the PES packets. Each ofthe PES packets has a PES header, and the PES header stores aPresentation Time-Stamp (PTS) indicating a display time of the picture,and a Decoding Time-Stamp (DTS) indicating a decoding time of thepicture.

FIG. 57 illustrates a format of TS packets to be finally written on themultiplexed data. Each of the TS packets is a 188-byte fixed lengthpacket including a 4-byte TS header having information, such as a PIDfor identifying a stream and a 184-byte TS payload for storing data. ThePES packets are divided, and stored in the TS payloads, respectively.When a BD ROM is used, each of the TS packets is given a 4-byteTP_Extra_Header, thus resulting in 192-byte source packets. The sourcepackets are written on the multiplexed data. The TP_Extra_Header storesinformation such as an Arrival_Time_Stamp (ATS). The ATS shows atransfer start time at which each of the TS packets is to be transferredto a PID filter. The source packets are arranged in the multiplexed dataas shown at the bottom of FIG. 57 . The numbers incrementing from thehead of the multiplexed data are called source packet numbers (SPNs).

Furthermore, each of the TS packets included in the multiplexed dataincludes not only streams of audio, video, subtitles and others, butalso a Program Association Table (PAT), a Program Map Table (PMT), and aProgram Clock Reference (PCR). The PAT shows what a PID in a PMT used inthe multiplexed data indicates, and a PID of the PAT itself isregistered as zero. The PMT stores PIDs of the streams of video, audio,subtitles and others included in the multiplexed data, and attributeinformation of the streams corresponding to the PIDs. The PMT also hasvarious descriptors relating to the multiplexed data. The descriptorshave information such as copy control information showing whethercopying of the multiplexed data is permitted or not. The PCR stores STCtime information corresponding to an ATS showing when the PCR packet istransferred to a decoder, in order to achieve synchronization between anArrival Time Clock (ATC) that is a time axis of ATSs, and an System TimeClock (STC) that is a time axis of PTSs and DTSs.

FIG. 58 illustrates the data structure of the PMT in detail. A PMTheader is disposed at the top of the PMT. The PMT header describes thelength of data included in the PMT and others. A plurality ofdescriptors relating to the multiplexed data is disposed after the PMTheader. Information such as the copy control information is described inthe descriptors. After the descriptors, a plurality of pieces of streaminformation relating to the streams included in the multiplexed data isdisposed. Each piece of stream information includes stream descriptorseach describing information, such as a stream type for identifying acompression codec of a stream, a stream PID, and stream attributeinformation (such as a frame rate or an aspect ratio). The streamdescriptors are equal in number to the number of streams in themultiplexed data.

When the multiplexed data is recorded on a recording medium and others,it is recorded together with multiplexed data information files.

Each of the multiplexed data information files is management informationof the multiplexed data as shown in FIG. 59 . The multiplexed datainformation files are in one to one correspondence with the multiplexeddata, and each of the files includes multiplexed data information,stream attribute information, and an entry map.

As illustrated in FIG. 59 , the multiplexed data information includes asystem rate, a reproduction start time, and a reproduction end time. Thesystem rate indicates the maximum transfer rate at which a system targetdecoder to be described later transfers the multiplexed data to a PIDfilter. The intervals of the ATSs included in the multiplexed data areset to not higher than a system rate. The reproduction start timeindicates a PTS in a video frame at the head of the multiplexed data. Aninterval of one frame is added to a PTS in a video frame at the end ofthe multiplexed data, and the PTS is set to the reproduction end time.

As shown in FIG. 60 , a piece of attribute information is registered inthe stream attribute information, for each PID of each stream includedin the multiplexed data. Each piece of attribute information hasdifferent information depending on whether the corresponding stream is avideo stream, an audio stream, a presentation graphics stream, or aninteractive graphics stream. Each piece of video stream attributeinformation carries information including what kind of compression codecis used for compressing the video stream, and the resolution, aspectratio and frame rate of the pieces of picture data that is included inthe video stream. Each piece of audio stream attribute informationcarries information including what kind of compression codec is used forcompressing the audio stream, how many channels are included in theaudio stream, which language the audio stream supports, and how high thesampling frequency is. The video stream attribute information and theaudio stream attribute information are used for initialization of adecoder before the player plays back the information.

In the present embodiment, the multiplexed data to be used is of astream type included in the PMT. Furthermore, when the multiplexed datais recorded on a recording medium, the video stream attributeinformation included in the multiplexed data information is used. Morespecifically, the moving picture coding method or the moving picturecoding apparatus described in each of embodiments includes a step or aunit for allocating unique information indicating video data generatedby the moving picture coding method or the moving picture codingapparatus in each of embodiments, to the stream type included in the PMTor the video stream attribute information. With the configuration, thevideo data generated by the moving picture coding method or the movingpicture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments can bedistinguished from video data that conforms to another standard.

Furthermore, FIG. 61 illustrates steps of the moving picture decodingmethod according to the present embodiment. In Step exS100, the streamtype included in the PMT or the video stream attribute informationincluded in the multiplexed data information is obtained from themultiplexed data. Next, in Step exS101, it is determined whether or notthe stream type or the video stream attribute information indicates thatthe multiplexed data is generated by the moving picture coding method orthe moving picture coding apparatus in each of embodiments. When it isdetermined that the stream type or the video stream attributeinformation indicates that the multiplexed data is generated by themoving picture coding method or the moving picture coding apparatus ineach of embodiments, in Step exS102, decoding is performed by the movingpicture decoding method in each of embodiments. Furthermore, when thestream type or the video stream attribute information indicatesconformance to the conventional standards, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC,and VC-1, in Step exS103, decoding is performed by a moving picturedecoding method in conformity with the conventional standards.

As such, allocating a new unique value to the stream type or the videostream attribute information enables determination whether or not themoving picture decoding method or the moving picture decoding apparatusthat is described in each of embodiments can perform decoding. Even whenmultiplexed data that conforms to a different standard is input, anappropriate decoding method or apparatus can be selected. Thus, itbecomes possible to decode information without any error. Furthermore,the moving picture coding method or apparatus, or the moving picturedecoding method or apparatus in the present embodiment can be used inthe devices and systems described above.

Embodiment 11

Each of the moving picture coding method, the moving picture codingapparatus, the moving picture decoding method, and the moving picturedecoding apparatus in each of embodiments is typically achieved in theform of an integrated circuit or a Large Scale Integrated (LSI) circuit.As an example of the LSI, FIG. 62 illustrates a configuration of the LSIex500 that is made into one chip. The LSI ex500 includes elements ex501,ex502, ex503, ex504, ex505, ex506, ex507, ex508, and ex509 to bedescribed below, and the elements are connected to each other through abus ex510. The power supply circuit unit ex505 is activated by supplyingeach of the elements with power when the power supply circuit unit ex505is turned on.

For example, when coding is performed, the LSI ex500 receives an AVsignal from a microphone ex117, a camera ex113, and others through an AVIO ex509 under control of a control unit ex501 including a CPU ex502, amemory controller ex503, a stream controller ex504, and a drivingfrequency control unit ex512. The received AV signal is temporarilystored in an external memory ex511, such as an SDRAM. Under control ofthe control unit ex501, the stored data is segmented into data portionsaccording to the processing amount and speed to be transmitted to asignal processing unit ex507. Then, the signal processing unit ex507codes an audio signal and/or a video signal. Here, the coding of thevideo signal is the coding described in each of embodiments.Furthermore, the signal processing unit ex507 sometimes multiplexes thecoded audio data and the coded video data, and a stream IO ex506provides the multiplexed data outside. The provided multiplexed data istransmitted to the base station ex107, or written on the recordingmedium ex215. When data sets are multiplexed, the data should betemporarily stored in the buffer ex508 so that the data sets aresynchronized with each other.

Although the memory ex511 is an element outside the LSI ex500, it may beincluded in the LSI ex500. The buffer ex508 is not limited to onebuffer, but may be composed of buffers. Furthermore, the LSI ex500 maybe made into one chip or a plurality of chips.

Furthermore, although the control unit ex501 includes the CPU ex502, thememory controller ex503, the stream controller ex504, the drivingfrequency control unit ex512, the configuration of the control unitex501 is not limited to such. For example, the signal processing unitex507 may further include a CPU. Inclusion of another CPU in the signalprocessing unit ex507 can improve the processing speed. Furthermore, asanother example, the CPU ex502 may serve as or be a part of the signalprocessing unit ex507, and, for example, may include an audio signalprocessing unit. In such a case, the control unit ex501 includes thesignal processing unit ex507 or the CPU ex502 including a part of thesignal processing unit ex507.

The name used here is LSI, but it may also be called IC, system LSI,super LSI, or ultra LSI depending on the degree of integration.

Moreover, ways to achieve integration are not limited to the LSI, and aspecial circuit or a general purpose processor and so forth can alsoachieve the integration. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) that canbe programmed after manufacturing LSIs or a reconfigurable processorthat allows re-configuration of the connection or configuration of anLSI can be used for the same purpose. Such a programmable logic devicecan execute the image coding method or the image decoding methoddescribed in each of the embodiments, typically by loading or readingfrom a memory, etc., a program including software or firmware.

In addition, if circuit integration technology replacing LSI appearswith the advancement of semiconductor technology or other techniquesderiving therefrom, integration of the function blocks may be carriedout using such technology. Application of biotechnology, and so on, is apossibility.

Embodiment 12

When video data generated in the moving picture coding method or by themoving picture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments isdecoded, it is possible for the processing amount to increase comparedto when video data that conforms to a conventional standard, such asMPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1 is decoded. Thus, the LSI ex500 needs to beset to a driving frequency higher than that of the CPU ex502 to be usedwhen video data in conformity with the conventional standard is decoded.However, when the driving frequency is set higher, there is a problemthat the power consumption increases.

In order to solve the problem, the moving picture decoding apparatus,such as the television ex300 and the LSI ex500 is configured todetermine to which standard the video data conforms, and switch betweenthe driving frequencies according to the determined standard. FIG. 63illustrates a configuration ex800 in the present embodiment. A drivingfrequency switching unit ex803 sets a driving frequency to a higherdriving frequency when video data is generated by the moving picturecoding method or the moving picture coding apparatus described in eachof embodiments. Then, the driving frequency switching unit ex803instructs a decoding processing unit ex801 that executes the movingpicture decoding method described in each of embodiments to decode thevideo data. When the video data conforms to the conventional standard,the driving frequency switching unit ex803 sets a driving frequency to alower driving frequency than that of the video data generated by themoving picture coding method or the moving picture coding apparatusdescribed in each of embodiments. Then, the driving frequency switchingunit ex803 instructs the decoding processing unit ex802 that conforms tothe conventional standard to decode the video data.

More specifically, the driving frequency switching unit ex803 includesthe CPU ex502 and the driving frequency control unit ex512 in FIG. 62 .Here, each of the decoding processing unit ex801 that executes themoving picture decoding method described in each of embodiments and thedecoding processing unit ex802 that conforms to the conventionalstandard corresponds to the signal processing unit ex507 in FIG. 62 .The CPU ex502 determines to which standard the video data conforms.Then, the driving frequency control unit ex512 determines a drivingfrequency based on a signal from the CPU ex502. Furthermore, the signalprocessing unit ex507 decodes the video data based on the signal fromthe CPU ex502. For example, it is possible that the identificationinformation described in Embodiment 10 is used for identifying the videodata. The identification information is not limited to the one describedin Embodiment 10 but may be any information as long as the informationindicates to which standard the video data conforms. For example, whenwhich standard video data conforms to can be determined based on anexternal signal for determining that the video data is used for atelevision or a disk, etc., the determination may be made based on suchan external signal. Furthermore, the CPU ex502 selects a drivingfrequency based on, for example, a look-up table in which the standardsof the video data are associated with the driving frequencies as shownin FIG. 65 . The driving frequency can be selected by storing thelook-up table in the buffer ex508 and in an internal memory of an LSI,and with reference to the look-up table by the CPU ex502.

FIG. 64 illustrates steps for executing a method in the presentembodiment. First, in Step exS200, the signal processing unit ex507obtains identification information from the multiplexed data. Next, inStep exS201, the CPU ex502 determines whether or not the video data isgenerated by the coding method and the coding apparatus described ineach of embodiments, based on the identification information. When thevideo data is generated by the moving picture coding method and themoving picture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments, inStep exS202, the CPU ex502 transmits a signal for setting the drivingfrequency to a higher driving frequency to the driving frequency controlunit ex512. Then, the driving frequency control unit ex512 sets thedriving frequency to the higher driving frequency. On the other hand,when the identification information indicates that the video dataconforms to the conventional standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, andVC-1, in Step exS203, the CPU ex502 transmits a signal for setting thedriving frequency to a lower driving frequency to the driving frequencycontrol unit ex512. Then, the driving frequency control unit ex512 setsthe driving frequency to the lower driving frequency than that in thecase where the video data is generated by the moving picture codingmethod and the moving picture coding apparatus described in each ofembodiment.

Furthermore, along with the switching of the driving frequencies, thepower conservation effect can be improved by changing the voltage to beapplied to the LSI ex500 or an apparatus including the LSI ex500. Forexample, when the driving frequency is set lower, it is possible thatthe voltage to be applied to the LSI ex500 or the apparatus includingthe LSI ex500 is set to a voltage lower than that in the case where thedriving frequency is set higher.

Furthermore, when the processing amount for decoding is larger, thedriving frequency may be set higher, and when the processing amount fordecoding is smaller, the driving frequency may be set lower as themethod for setting the driving frequency. Thus, the setting method isnot limited to the ones described above. For example, when theprocessing amount for decoding video data in conformity with MPEG-4 AVCis larger than the processing amount for decoding video data generatedby the moving picture coding method and the moving picture codingapparatus described in each of embodiments, it is possible that thedriving frequency is set in reverse order to the setting describedabove.

Furthermore, the method for setting the driving frequency is not limitedto the method for setting the driving frequency lower. For example, whenthe identification information indicates that the video data isgenerated by the moving picture coding method and the moving picturecoding apparatus described in each of embodiments, it is possible thatthe voltage to be applied to the LSI ex500 or the apparatus includingthe LSI ex500 is set higher. When the identification informationindicates that the video data conforms to the conventional standard,such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1, it is possible that the voltage tobe applied to the LSI ex500 or the apparatus including the LSI ex500 isset lower. As another example, it is possible that, when theidentification information indicates that the video data is generated bythe moving picture coding method and the moving picture coding apparatusdescribed in each of embodiments, the driving of the CPU ex502 is notsuspended, and when the identification information indicates that thevideo data conforms to the conventional standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4AVC, and VC-1, the driving of the CPU ex502 is suspended at a given timebecause the CPU ex502 has extra processing capacity. It is possiblethat, even when the identification information indicates that the videodata is generated by the moving picture coding method and the movingpicture coding apparatus described in each of embodiments, in the casewhere the CPU ex502 has extra processing capacity, the driving of theCPU ex502 is suspended at a given time. In such a case, it is possiblethat the suspending time is set shorter than that in the case where whenthe identification information indicates that the video data conforms tothe conventional standard, such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1.

Accordingly, the power conservation effect can be improved by switchingbetween the driving frequencies in accordance with the standard to whichthe video data conforms. Furthermore, when the LSI ex500 or theapparatus including the LSI ex500 is driven using a battery, the batterylife can be extended with the power conservation effect.

Embodiment 13

There are cases where a plurality of video data that conforms todifferent standards, is provided to the devices and systems, such as atelevision and a cellular phone. In order to enable decoding theplurality of video data that conforms to the different standards, thesignal processing unit ex507 of the LSI ex500 needs to conform to thedifferent standards. However, the problems of increase in the scale ofthe circuit of the LSI ex500 and increase in the cost arise with theindividual use of the signal processing units ex507 that conform to therespective standards.

In order to solve the problem, what is conceived is a configuration inwhich the decoding processing unit for implementing the moving picturedecoding method described in each of embodiments and the decodingprocessing unit that conforms to the conventional standard, such asMPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and VC-1 are partly shared. Ex900 in FIG. 66A showsan example of the configuration. For example, the moving picturedecoding method described in each of embodiments and the moving picturedecoding method that conforms to MPEG-4 AVC have, partly in common, thedetails of processing, such as entropy coding, inverse quantization,deblocking filtering, and motion compensated prediction. It is possiblefor a decoding processing unit ex902 that conforms to MPEG-4 AVC to beshared by common processing operations, and for a dedicated decodingprocessing unit ex901 to be used for processing which is unique to anaspect of the present disclosure and does not conform to MPEG-4 AVC. Inparticular, since an aspect of the present disclosure is characterizedby hierarchical coding, it is possible, for example, for the dedicateddecoding processing unit ex901 to be used for hierarchical coding, andfor the decoding processing unit to be shared by any or all of the otherprocessing, such as entropy decoding, inverse quantization, deblockingfiltering, and motion compensation. The decoding processing unit forimplementing the moving picture decoding method described in each ofembodiments may be shared for the processing to be shared, and adedicated decoding processing unit may be used for processing unique tothat of MPEG-4 AVC.

Furthermore, ex1000 in FIG. 66B shows another example in that processingis partly shared. This example uses a configuration including adedicated decoding processing unit ex1001 that supports the processingunique to an aspect of the present disclosure, a dedicated decodingprocessing unit ex1002 that supports the processing unique to anotherconventional standard, and a decoding processing unit ex1003 thatsupports processing to be shared between the moving picture decodingmethod according to the aspect of the present disclosure and theconventional moving picture decoding method. Here, the dedicateddecoding processing units ex1001 and ex1002 are not necessarilyspecialized for the processing according to the aspect of the presentdisclosure and the processing of the conventional standard,respectively, and may be the ones capable of implementing generalprocessing. Furthermore, the configuration of the present embodiment canbe implemented by the LSI ex500.

As such, reducing the scale of the circuit of an LSI and reducing thecost are possible by sharing the decoding processing unit for theprocessing to be shared between the moving picture decoding methodaccording to the aspect of the present disclosure and the moving picturedecoding method in conformity with the conventional standard.

Although only some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure havebeen described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplaryembodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings andadvantages of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thepresent disclosure.

The present disclosure can be applied to an image coding method, animage decoding method, an image coding apparatus, and an image decodingapparatus. Furthermore, the present disclosure can be used in variousapplications such as data storage, transfer, or communication. Forexample, the present disclosure can be used in information displaydevices and image-capturing devices such as a television, a digitalvideo recorder, a car navigation system, a cellular phone, a digitalstill camera, a digital video camera, and so on.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A transmitting method performed by atransmitting device, the transmitting method comprising: encodingpictures arranged in encoding order to generate encoded pictures, theencoding order being different from display order, the pictures eachbeing associated with any one of Temporal IDs defined in High EfficiencyVideo Coding (HEVC) standard; and transmitting the encoded pictures,wherein the pictures include B pictures associated with a largestTemporal ID, the B pictures corresponding to Bi-directional PredictedFrames of the HEVC standard, the B pictures include a leading B picturein the display order, and (i) only a single picture is referenced and(ii) reference to a lower B picture is prohibited when the leading Bpicture is encoded, the single picture being provided in front of theleading B picture in the display order, a Temporal ID associated witheach of the single picture and the lower B picture being smaller thanthe largest Temporal ID, the lower B picture being provided immediatelybehind the leading B picture in the display order.
 2. The transmittingmethod according to claim 1, wherein the single picture is providedimmediately in front of the leading B picture in the display order. 3.The transmitting method according to claim 1, wherein the Temporal IDassociated with the single picture is one smaller than the largestTemporal ID.
 4. The transmitting method according to claim 1, whereinthe single picture corresponds to an Intra Coded Frame of the HEVCstandard.
 5. A receiving method performed by a receiving device, thereceiving method comprising: receiving encoded pictures; decoding theencoded pictures arranged in decoding order to generate pictures, thedecoding order being different from display order, the encoded pictureseach being associated with any one of Temporal IDs defined in HighEfficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard, wherein the encoded picturesinclude B pictures associated with a largest Temporal ID, the B picturescorresponding to Bi-directional Predicted Frames of the HEVC standard,the B pictures include a leading B picture in the display order, and (i)only a single picture is referenced and (ii) reference to a lower Bpicture is prohibited when the leading B picture is decoded, the singlepicture being provided in front of the leading B picture in the displayorder, a Temporal ID associated with each of the single picture and thelower B picture being smaller than the largest Temporal ID, the lower Bpicture being provided immediately behind the leading B picture in thedisplay order.
 6. The receiving method according to claim 5, wherein thesingle picture is provided immediately in front of the leading B picturein the display order.
 7. The receiving method according to claim 5,wherein the Temporal ID associated with the single picture is onesmaller than the largest Temporal ID.
 8. The receiving method accordingto claim 5, wherein the single picture corresponds to an Intra CodedFrame of the HEVC standard.
 9. A receiving device comprising: a receiverconfigured to receive encoded pictures; a signal processing circuitconfigured to decode the encoded pictures arranged in decoding order togenerate pictures, the decoding order being different from displayorder, the encoded pictures each being associated with any one ofTemporal IDs defined in High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard,wherein the encoded pictures include B pictures associated with alargest Temporal ID, the B pictures corresponding to Bi-directionalPredicted Frames of the HEVC standard, the B pictures include a leadingB picture in the display order, and (i) only a single picture isreferenced and (ii) reference to a lower B picture is prohibited whenthe leading B picture is decoded, the single picture being provided infront of the leading B picture in the display order, a Temporal IDassociated with each of the single picture and the lower B picture beingsmaller than the largest Temporal ID, the lower B picture being providedimmediately behind the leading B picture in the display order.
 10. Thereceiving device according to claim 9, wherein the single picture isprovided immediately in front of the leading B picture in the displayorder.
 11. The receiving device according to claim 9, wherein theTemporal ID associated with the single picture is one smaller than thelargest Temporal ID.
 12. The receiving device according to claim 9,wherein the single picture corresponds to an Intra Coded Frame of theHEVC standard.